Your last chance to help a needy child this Christmas

Times are hard and most of us will find buying gifts this Christmas an expensive task, but one company is hoping you will not forget others.

Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty (CBBR) has teamed up with the Coalition for Protection of Children to appeal for Toys for Tots.

The annual toy appeal for disadvantaged children has been running for 10 years but this year — due to the economic climate — donations are down.

Today — November 30 — is the last day of this year’s appeal and your last chance to participate.

Heather Chilvers, CBBR sales representative and appeal organizer, said: “We need as much help as we can get this year, as toy donations are down.”

Over the years, Toys For Tots has grown from 200 gifts of new toys to 1,200 last year.

But this year, because of the recession and tough times families are facing, more toys are needed than ever.

Ms Chilvers said: “This year we actually need 1,500 new toys, as the economy has left additional families in need.

“This is the time that children need help more than ever.

Compassion

“People have been extremely generous and kind to this cause over the years, and we hope that they will this year as well.

“Some children in Bermuda have one of the most fortunate lifestyles in the world, and way more toys than they really want or need.

“We ask that parents get them involved and educate them to be compassionate and empathetic to those less fortunate than themselves.

“There is always a time in everyone’s life, no matter who they are, when they experience some sort of hardship or pain, whether through ill health, loss or some kind of emotional upset.

“It is nice when there’s a helping hand there, so please be the helping hand for these children.

“Obviously, giving a gift to Toys For Tots is a choice, but there are many choices for $20 or $30 that would make a child very happy.

“We collect gifts for children aged 0-16, but are always short of gifts in the teenage category, so a gift certificate can be just the thing if you are undecided what to purchase.

“Giving feeds the soul, and all for less than the price of a couple of drinks or deli lunches. ”

Toys For Tots was initiated by William Hendricks in Los Angeles in 1947 after his wife Diane tried to donate a homemade Raggedy Ann doll to a needy child but could find no means to do so.

The couple gathered together a group of US Marine Corps Reserve volunteers to organize a toy collection.

It resulted in more than 5,000 toys being donated in bins placed outside of movie theatres.

In 1948, Toys For Tots was launched as a national campaign in the US.

In 2009 it was estimated the Toys For Tots Program and Foundation had distributed almost 500 million toys.

Last December, First Lady Michelle Obama also took part in the programme.

The charity’s goal is to ‘deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens’.

The Bermuda appeal was initiated by CBBR sales representative Kim Webb in 2002, after seeing that Coldwell Banker in Vermont was taking part. She has spearheaded the programme since, assisted by the company’s staff.

This year’s volunteers include organizers Ms Chilvers and Cratonia Smith, plus Ann Rego, Carol Birch, Quinton Burgess and Sarah Faiella.

But Ms Chilvers added: “The entire company gets involved one way or another towards the end, as collecting and moving so many toys requires a lot of manpower.

“Once the toys have been collected and delivered to the Coalition for the Protection of Children, mothers or caregivers will come by and help to select a toy suitable for a particular child.

“Then the wrapping begins. Everyone pitches in — from CBBR employees to schoolchildren getting their community service hours, to family members and other volunteers. It is a massive task.

“The Coalition for the Protection of Children has a large Christmas party on December 9 and the toys are given to the children at this time.”

If you want to help a disadvantaged child this Christmas, you can donate a new, unwrapped toy to Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty or the Coalition for the Protection of Children.

Donations are currently on display in the windows of the CBBR offices.

There are also drop-off boxes at the Phoenix Annex Toy Store, Hunt’s Food & Supplies, Daisy & Mac, Arnold’s Discount Warehouse, People’s Pharmacy, Face & Body Day Spa, and Gorham’s.

Some stores also give discounts on toys purchased.

For more information contact Ms Chilvers at 247-1808 or Ms Smith at 247-1807. Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty is located at 11 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton.