The gifts just carried on coming in our appeal’s final days.

We want to thank all those who made the appeal such a success in the last seven days.

We start our list of thank you’s with an acknolwledgment to Glyn Hopkin Ltd, for their donation of �4,125, which went to all round support of the appeal, parties, pantomimes and presents. Just brilliant.

Party sponsorship was also much needed this yearand support came Rory O Shea – O’Shea Building Contractors, who gave us �500; The The Clancey Group - �200; Scrutton Estates Ltd - �750; Land Securities- �1,000; Aspers -�2,400; Telford Homes - �600; Hawkins Brown Architects- �500; Oval Insurance - �500.

A number of local churches staged Toy Services. The roll of honour here is: Writtle United Reformed Church, who gave toys and a �100 donation; All Saints Writtle- toys; St Marys Broomfield – toys; St Michaels Church Kelvedon Hatch – toys; St Andrews Church south Woodham Ferrers - toys; St George’s Church East Ham - toys and �150 donation; Brentwood United Reformed Church - toys; St Margarets Gidea Park – toys; All Saints Church Goodmayes- toys

Toys and Books from manufacturers and publishers were given by: Tomy UK; Anderson Press; Pan MacMillan; Barefoot Books; Wizard Ltd; Ragdoll; Chicken House; Character Options and Playmobil

Toy Collections were staged by a number of individuals and firms.

We would like to thank: Reed Smith – Broadgate Tower EC2A 2RS; Tesco Plc – Prgress House Welwyn Garden City; Lloyds Banking – Alder Castle House EC2V 7JX; Aramark Ltd – Innovation Centre EC3R 7DG; Priory Tavern – NW6; Capita Symmonds – W1S 7HQ + donation; Oval Insurance – E1 7EZ; Exclesiastical Insurance – EC3; T.P.G.; Close Brother Ltd – Investment Bankers; R and Q; Hurley Palmer Flatt – West End office.

Party Foods and Gifts in Kind came from: Farm Foods; Key Catering and Tavern Snacks.

General gifts and donations came from all over : Tate & Lyle Sugars, Silvertown – collection at Christmas Lunch raised �356.90; Rokeby School, Stratford – Non uniform day raised �614.45; Eastcote School Goodmayes – Toy Collection; Newham Sixth Form College - �75; Toppesfield - �1,000; ExCeL Centre, Custom House - �1,000; Harlequin Marquee Hire - �50 ; Holy Ghost Christian Church, E16 -�200 and Arriva - �300, and Fords of Dagenham for their generosity.

Members of the public gave various donations and gifts.We want to thank: Kirti Sheth, Anita Blow , Laura Holland, Wendy Lim, Jean Cotman, Mr and Mrs Stevens, Mr Peasnall, Peter Law – Upsdales, Michael, Andrew Baikie, Gina, R. Wickes, Licensing Management International, V. Brennan and G. Pryor.

Links also have a Roll of Honour for members of their Christmas 100 Club. The following all gave �100,: M + G Property Management Services; Towergate; Sheaf Graphics; OMM Office Supplies; Able Lifts and Head Office Cleaning.

There was also a Links – Roll of Honour Christmas 75 Club. �75 donations came from: Connserve Ltd – Bucks; Elliot Ward of SW1G and Rigel Shipping.

And we would also like to thank Paul, Laura and Paige Clements.

******************************************************************************************************************

Youngsters had a whale of a time at the parties staged at Community Links headquarters in Barking Road, Canning Town.

The entertainers on show were simply magic!

We got a lovely boost from Hurley Palmer Flatt, consulting engineers, and specialists in mission critical engineering and energy and sustainability.

Boss Mike Morrison dropped in to Links to give a gift of toys from the company, where each employee donated a gift.

That is typical of the message behind the appeal.

**********************************************************************************************************************

During the course of our long appeal campaign, some heroes came to the rescue that we could not reveal until after it ended for security reasons.

The Quattro group, in Canning Road, Stratford, allowed Links to use their base as the storage and distribution centre for all the gifts free of charge.

“They were fantastic, “ said appeal co-ordinator Paula Blake.

The plant hire company’s managing director John Murphy and transport manager Liam Bolger said: “We were glad to help out. As a local firm we have seen the appeal grow and it is very dear to our hearts.”

**********************************************************************************************************************

Everyone at St Bonaventure’s School in Forest Gate can take a bow.

They stunned us with a donation of �2,000 and toys last Wednesday afternoon that they collected through a non-uniform day, toy collections and a series of sponsored events.

Said Frances Clarke of Links: “It is a simply magnificent effort.”

*********************************************************************************************************

Toy Collections were staged by a variety of people, groups and organisations.

Some even made one donation and then went back and did another when they heard we were struggling to meet our target.

Thanks to: Cofely; Pamin Investments; MVB – Lee Tunnel Project + cash; GL Hearn – London; Barclays Capital; ING Ltd EC2; Tower 42; Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd; Hurley Palmer Flatt and Gain Capital. We were also boosted by Kantor Worldpanel; Clifford Chance; Man Group; Valero Energy; Silverpop; Fremantle Media; UBS; Miller Insurance Services; Reed Smith: Poer Stairs. There were also gifts from the Business in the Community group of �300 and Primark, who donated �250 in vouchers.

And thanks to PAM Global Investments – Toy collection; Vanguard Asset Management – Toy collection; St Johns and St James Church – Havering atte Bower – Toy collection; Coults Charitable Trust - �500; Deutsche Bank – Toy collection; St Augustine of Canterbury – Romford – �188.00; Mr Fonze – donation (member of public); ASDA Beckton – Toys via customers; R Orris – Toys (member of public). And thanks to BNP Paribas Securities Services – Toy collection; NewVic Sixth Form College - �175; R Jassas – Toys (member of public).

*******************************************************************************************************************

Community Links staged a Christmas on the Farm event at Newham City Farm, in Stansfeld Road, Beckton.

The two-day event raisedmoney for the farm, run by Links and funds for toys for the annual Toy Appeal staged by Links and the Recorder. There was a nativity scene with Father Christmas, Newham’s tallest Christmas tree, Nativity plays, workshops, refreshments, a Christmas farm trail and carol singing. There was also a tombola, craft stalls, and toy stalls.

and refreshments and pony rides.

***********************************************************************************************************

The appeal got a great uplfits in its final days from our two MPs and a Christian Centre.

East Ham MP Stephen Timms and West Ham MP Lyn Brown made donations to the campaign that is right at the heart of the community.

And on one of the days that parties were staged for needy children members of the Holyghost Christian Centre in the Royal Docks in Custom House turned up to meet Community Links staff.

Dorcas Adeyileka from the centre handed overtheir donation which was immediately transformed into toys for children in Newham who really needed them most.

Thank you so much.