People are being encouraged to support local families and individuals in need this Christmas by donating to the Tameside Toy Appeal and local foodbanks.

Tameside Council has set up collection points in all local libraries and children’s centres, as well as organising collection points in its workplaces for its staff to support the appeals.

One in four children in Tameside are living in poverty and the aim of Tameside Toy Appeal, led by Action Together, is to ensure every one of these children receive a gift this Christmas.

The toy appeal accepts new, unwrapped gifts for babies up to 18-year-olds. They are always particularly short of gifts for babies and teenagers – especially boys. You can also donate money online to buy gifts via the JustGiving page. The deadline for donations is Friday 9 December.

Items needed for foodbanks include tea, coffee, long life milk, long life fruit juice or cordial, tinned meat and fish, tinned potatoes and veg, instant mashed potato, biscuits, tinned fruit, tinned custard and rice pudding, Christmas food items, nappies and formula milk. The deadline for donations is Monday 12 December.

Tameside Council Executive Leader, Cllr Ged Cooney, said: "Unfortunately many local children, families and individuals are suffering severe financial hardship and need support more than ever this year.

"I know that we have a warm hearted community in Tameside and I would encourage everyone who is in a position to donate something to the toy appeal or to foodbanks to please do so - every contribution, no matter how small, will help to make a difference to someone who is having a hard time."

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