Success for Woods Christmas Community Toy Drive

The staff at Woods Estate Agents & Auctioneers would like to send a huge thank you to everyone who made do...

The staff at Woods Estate Agents & Auctioneers would like to send a huge thank you to everyone who made donations to its Local Community Christmas Toy Drive.

As the increased cost of living continues to take its toll, the estate agency organised the event to help local families give presents to their children this Christmas. A massive selection of toys, games and puzzles, teddies, action figures and play sets as well as a whole host of other items for all age groups, were donated and made available at the Toy Drive, which was held on Saturday 3^rd December at Kingskerswell Parish Church.

Several local families attended the event, browsed the massive selection and chose gifts for their children. Everyone was given a hot chocolate and a sweet treat on arrival, and for the children, there was a reindeer food-making station as well as a table where they could write their letters to Santa or colour in pictures of Woody Bear. Woody, the Woods mascot, made a special appearance at the Toy Drive, much to the delight of parents, grandparents, and children alike.

Although everything was complimentary, the event raised more than £175 in monetary donations, including a sizeable contribution from Wrights Electrical Services. All of this money will be spent on food and donated to THAT (Teignbridge Homeless Action Today), the local food bank in time for Christmas.

Local people were so generous with their donations, there were plenty of gifts left over. Many of the new items have been given to the local branch of The Salvation Army for its Christmas Present Appeal, which spreads the joy of Christmas to families whose children would otherwise not receive a gift. A huge chunk of the donations has gone to Kingskerswell Action Group, which is working alongside the Rotary Club to send Christmas gifts to orphans in Ukraine. And items unsuitable for sending abroad will be sold in the group’s village charity shop to raise funds to support local people.

Sarah Thomas, award-winning charity fundraiser and Distinctive Homes Coordinator at Woods, said: “We had so many donations, everything was in a wonderful condition and many items were still new – everyone was so generous! We even received a 42” smart TV!

“We began organising this event with the aim of helping local families, who wouldn’t otherwise have been able to afford gifts for their children, but it quickly snowballed into so much more than that. The Toy Drive helped the local families who came along, but it also raised more than we expected for the local food bank and then to be able to help no less than three fantastic causes in addition was absolutely amazing. We’re thrilled and extremely proud that the event was such a success.”

Sarah and others from the Woods Bryce Baker Preston office – Samantha and Molly as well as Jason, Lizette and Jasmine Baker, all helped out at the event. As well as thanking those who donated, their gratitude extends to everyone who helped to promote the Toy Drive - local newspapers, local schools, local shops, Devon Radio and the many who shared news of the event on social media. And special thanks go out to Kingskerswell Parish Church for the use of the building, Wrights Electrical Services for PAT testing all electrical items and its donation to the food bank, and also Inline Design Studio for the use of a vehicle to help transport the toys to the Church.

Sarah concluded: “Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the event; through donating items, collecting donations in their offices, spreading the word and to those who were able to join and support us on the day. It was a lot of hard work, but absolutely worth it and we couldn’t have achieved so much without you.”

For further information or for advice on anything property-related, pop into any branch of Woods, give us a call or email us. Contact details here.