THE Gazette & Herald’s Christmas Toy Appeal, in partnership with the Salvation Army, continues to go from strength to strength as we near December.

Chippenham High Street stores Wilko and Superdrug have both agreed to be drop-off points where generous members of the public can donate new toys.

The Salvation Army in Chippenham will collect the toys and give them to families who would otherwise struggle to purchase presents for their children.

Wilko store manager Chris Harbury said: “It’s going very well. We supported it for the first time last year and it went incredibly well – I think we collected four or five cages of toys.

“We have been going for about a week-and-a-half this year and we have collected about a cage.

“It’s to help the local community. We have a facility to be able to support the collection and it’s our opportunity to help a local charity.

“It went really well last year and I hope it goes even better this year.”

Just across the High Street, Superdrug is also collecting toys for all ages, from babies up to secondary school age.

Store manager Garry Andow said: “We have done it every year so far – the staff want to get involved and it’s something we can put back into the town. We work closely with the Salvation Army and I think it’s something we should do.

“There are a lot of people who are not so well off at Christmas and it affects them deeply.

“Not every child will get lots of presents.”

This year’s Christmas Toy Appeal was launched earlier in November and runs until mid-December.

DROP OFF POINTS

Drop-off points include: 

  • Malmesbury: Michael Thomas and Son Butchers, at The Triangle
  •  Chippenham: Sainsbury’s, Wilko, Superdrug
  •  Devizes: Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Winkworth, Wilko, John Stuart Funeral Directors
  •  Marlborough: Morrisons, Tesco, Henry George estate agents
  •  Donations can also be left at the Gazette’s offices at 15 Duke Street, Trowbridge