Northern District Community Health have launched their annual Tins and Toys drive, which will help to lift the spirits of vulnerable community members during the festive season.
In conjunction with many schools across the region and district churches, the Tins and Toys drive encourages households to help those less fortunate.
NDCH specialist of homelessness services Anna Beamish said the Tins and Toys drive was a great community initiative which showcased the generosity of the community.
“NDCH run the Tins and Toys drive for two weeks which will then enhance and add to the churches own collection of gifts, ready to give to the community,” she said.
“It’s then a combined effort to deliver the hampers out to individual families in the district.
“It’s like the community playing Santa, but there’s help in delivering the donated items.”
Ms Beamish is urging the community to donate new toys and non-perishable food items at any of their NDCH clinics in the district, participating schools or their local church.
“It’s really important that the food items are non-perishable, because in the past we have had some really generous donations, but because there’s a big production period of putting it all together, and in the summer food items easily melt or go off quicker, it really is much more beneficial to donate non-perishable items,” she said.
“People in the community are so generous it isn’t funny, but for fresher food it would be best to donate to a community Christmas lunch.”
