Our annual collection for the Newham Christmas Toy Appeal took place at the Men’s First Team game against Sheppey Sports.
This year, as well as a bucket shake, there was a stall selling old Clapton CFC merch and memorabilia donated by the club and others.
£923.42 was raised on card and £255.20 donated in cash, adding up to an amazing total of £1178.62. This is our biggest amount we’ve raised for the appeal ever.
This was transferred to the Newham Christmas Toy Appeal today, during the Big Give promotion which saw our donation doubled to a whopping £23578.
In total Clapton fans have raised over £5000 over the years for the appeal. Thanks so much for your generosity.
Now in its 47th year, the Newham Christmas Toy Appeal provides a stocking of new gifts to children who may otherwise have nothing to unwrap on Christmas Day. It’s organised by the Newham Recorder newspaper and local charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve.
In Newham, over 50% of local children are now growing up in poverty. In the cost-of-living crisis, the appeal is receiving more requests for help than ever before.
All money donated will be spent on buying presents for 3000 of Newham’s most under-privileged children in advance of Christmas Day.
The appeal’s target is to collect the equivalent of 15,000 new toys and gifts for young people.
You can still donate via their JustGiving page here.
Donations can also be made in person at the Terence Brown Arc In The Park, in Bethell Avenue, Canning Town, from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.
Other East London Christmas toy appeals
The Magpie Project has a ‘giving tree’ in Stratford Westfield for gifts for 0 to 2 year olds. Buy the gift and put it in the box. Runs until December 13.
Walthamstow Salvation Army run an annual toy appeal. If you would like to donate a toy, game, crafting materials, stationery, toiletries, book or even a gift card for a child (babies and teenagers too) then please drop it, unwrapped, to the collection box by Santa’s grotto in Walthamstow Mall (17 & Central) or at 434 Forest Road, E17 4PY before Christmas.