Our Christmas toy appeal - thank you!

Many hundreds of presents were dropped off at the William Knibb Centre in Kettering, the Corby Cube and Wellingborough Museum this month as part of our Christmas toy appeal.

Teddies, books, games, gifts for older children and more were collected before being sorted and distributed to children by Northamptonshire County Council’s children’s services team.

Appeal organiser Jeanette Walsh, also known as Mother Christmas, said she was once again overwhelmed by the response from Northants Telegraph readers.

She said: "I would like to say a huge thank you for the tremendous response once again from all the readers at the Northants Telegraph. The excellent quality of the gifts was wonderful.

"The gifts will go a very long way to making Christmas very special for lot of children and teenagers right across our region from Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Rushden - so thank you once again!"

Jeanette has been running the annual toy appeal in partnership with this newspaper for many years after being inspired by her own experience as a child in care.

She still remembers the happiness it brought her when she was given a present, just like the youngsters who will get to open a present today because of your generosity.

Northants Telegraph editor David Summers said he was amazed with the response to the appeal yet again.

He said: “Once again the generosity of our readers has been astonishing.

“Every one of these presents will put a smile on a child’s face and that is priceless.

“We cannot thank you enough for your support and thank you to Jeanette and her team for making sure the presents go to those who need them the most.”

The Northants Telegraph would once again like to thank Corby Council, the William Knibb Centre in Kettering and Wellingborough Museum for agreeing to act as collection points for the appeal.