Chance to help those in need with best ever Moray and Grampian Christmas Toy and Food appeal

CHRISTMAS is a chance to end a surreal and very difficult 2020 with a message of hope and happiness.

That's why we are aiming for the Moray and Grampian Christmas Toy and Food appeal to be the best ever.

The Northern Scot, St Giles Centre and Moray Council have again joined forces to coordinate the festive appeal for children whose families are facing a harsh Christmas due to coronavirus or other reasons, and older or more vulnerable people who perhaps don't have friends and family to support them.

And, as the saying goes, there is strength in numbers and we are delighted that also coming on board this year as appeal partners are Tesco Elgin, Asda Elgin and Dr Gray's Hospital in the form of the advance practitioner team for mental health.

There are a number of other collection points across Moray where you can drop off donations of toys, toiletries, gifts and non-perishable food items.

The appeal will run until Friday, December 18 and all your donations will be distributed to those in need in time for Christmas by Moray Council's social work department.

Due to coronavirus the offices of The Scot are currently closed, so the St Giles Centre in Elgin will be the main drop-off centre for the appeal. Tesco and Asda are both also accepting donations so look out for the collection points in store.

Nicola McCart, joint appeal coordinator, said: "This has been a very difficult year for lots of people and this festive appeal is needed more than ever."

Joe Millican, joint content editor of 'The Northern Scot', added: "Please help us provide a boost to those in need at this time of year. Every donation will make a huge difference."

The St Giles Centre is supporting the appeal alongside its traditional Giving Tree event and centre manager Stephen Young said: "We saw last year what an impact working together had and we are confident that the 2020 appeal will be even better."

Tesco Elgin and Asda Elgin are both on board and their respective community champions Tracy Gourlay and Kaye Macleod said they are delighted to be supporting the appeal.

Tracy said: "We are very happy to do what we can to make the appeal a success and urge all our customers to be as generous as they can."

And Kaye added: "This is for a great cause and will make such a difference to people's lives."

The mental health team at Dr Gray's Hospital are also part of the collective effort this year and senior nurse, Patricia Bury, said coronavirus is having a major impact on people's mental health.

She added: "If everyone comes together to make this appeal a success, hopefully we can help make Christmas a much brighter time for lots of people."

Peter Wilson is part of the team which deals with the logistics of getting presents and gifts to those most in need.

He said: "Last year more than 300 individuals or families were supported by the appeal, which was amazing."

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