Help Woods support local families this Christmas

27 Nov Help Woods support local families this Christmas

Woods Estate Agents & Auctioneers is operating a Christmas Toy Drive this year to help the families who are most under financial pressure during the current cost of living crisis.

The ‘real challenges’ described by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will, without a doubt, affect Christmas for many families in Torbay and across the country. Various surveys recently conducted by charities, retail and consumer groups reveal serious concern among vast swathes of the UK population about the festive season. The key consensus among all these surveys is that most of us (around 83%) will be cutting back on Christmas spending. Sadly, one survey said nearly a fifth of families are considering cancelling Christmas altogether due to lack of funds.

With this in mind, the fundraising team at Woods has arranged the Local Community Christmas Toy Drive, which will work in a similar way to a foodbank, but with toys and will enable less fortunate parents in the area to give a gift to their children this Christmas.

From now until 2 nd December, Woods offices in Preston, Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, Kingsteignton and Totnes are inviting people to donate new or used good-condition toys and games that they no longer want or need.

Then on Saturday 3 rd December, the Woods Christmas Toy Drive event will take place at Kingskerswell Parish Church. Between 9:30am and 3pm on the day, parents can go along to the Church and pick out toys that have been donated to give to their children/grandchildren this Christmas. The toys will be free of charge however any donations received will be spent on items for THAT (Teignbridge Homeless Action Today) food bank at 8 Queensway in Buckland, Newton Abbot. Any left-over toys will be passed onto Roger Jones of Kingskerswell Action Group, which exists to improve the appearance of the village and the quality of life for its residents and has a charity shop at Coles Lane Gardens.

Sarah Thomas, Woods Distinctive Homes Coordinator, said: “There will be a number of parents who cannot afford a gift for their children this year. There are charities that collect new toys to give to those in need, however there is a greater need now than ever before and there are loads of unwanted toys in great used condition in households everywhere that could go towards spreading a little joy to local children and their families this Christmas.”

Woods needs help from the local community to help make this event a success. If you are able to donate any new or used toys, games, fancy dress or electronics items for children of any age, from toddlers to teenagers, they can be dropped into any of the Woods Estate Agents offices by Friday 2nd December. All donations will be gratefully received.

• Woods Bryce Baker, 329 Torquay Road, Preston, Paignton, TQ3 2EP
• Woods Palmer Radclyffe, 5 Station Road, Bovey Tracey, TQ13 9AL
• Woods, 8 The Square, Chudleigh, TQ13 0HX
• Woods, 2 Newton Road, Kingsteignton, TQ12 3AJ, or
• Woods, 1 The Plains, Totnes, TQ9 5DR

For more information, contact Sarah Thomas at Woods Bryce Baker in Preston on 01803
390000 or email sarah@woodshomes.co.uk.