Witney News - Marriotts Walk launches festive toy appeal

Marriotts Walk launches festive toy appeal

Marriotts Walk shopping centre is urging Oxfordshire shoppers to ‘Give a Child a Gift’ this Christmas with the launch of its festive toy appeal, which will run until Saturday December 21st.

Shoppers are invited to donate an extra Christmas present of their choice to help make Christmas special for local unwell or life-limited children. The gifts will be donated to children at Oxford Radcliffe Hospital and Helen and Douglas House Hospice for Children and Young People in Oxfordshire in time for Christmas Day.

Lynne Shawyer, Centre Manager at Marriotts Walk, said: “We’re so pleased to be launching our very first Christmas charity toy appeal and hope that locals will help to make Christmas that little bit brighter for hundreds of children from across Oxfordshire.

“Even the smallest of favours can make such a huge difference and each and every gift donated will go to a local life-limited child or young person over the festive season - at either Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds or the Helen and Douglas House Hospice.

Penny Hambridge, Children’s Development Officer at Oxford Children’s Hospital, said: “We’re always very grateful for the support that the local Oxfordshire community gives our children at Christmas and throughout the year. The Marriotts Walk gift appeal will make a huge difference, in helping put smiles on the faces of many children. We are enormously grateful to Marriotts Walk for helping the local community this Christmas, and beyond.”

Lynne Shawyer, continued: “Our final collection date is the 21st December – where Santa himself will be at the centre during the day to personally collect the last gifts to be delivered in time for Christmas.”

Shoppers who wish to donate should avoid giving cuddly toys and ensure that all gifts are brand new, fully packaged and unwrapped before donating at the retailers East and Dorothy Perkins at Marriotts Walk, who will have a santa sack at the ready. December 21st is the final day for shoppers to donate at the centre, where Santa will also be on hand between 11am and 3pm to collect the gifts.

The ‘Give a Child a Gift’ Christmas toy appeal is just one of the Christmas activities held by Marriotts Walk this year, with a whole host of other festive activities planned including a live choir, visits from the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and a visit from the Rotary Club’s Father Christmas and Sleigh.

Saturday 14th December – Churches Together will be at the centre between 9am – 5pm, carol singing and serving minced pieces as well as entertaining children with balloon modelling. Oxfordshire Fire Service will also be on hand from 9am to help teach people how to be safe driving over the Christmas period, and serving non-alcoholic mulled wine.

Thursday 19th December – The Lions Club will be at the centre during the day with Santa and his Sleigh

Saturday 21st December – Santa himself will be roaming the centre between 11am and 3pm to chat to children and collect the community’s final donations for the ‘Give a Child a Gift’ campaign.

The centre is also running online competitions for locals to win prizes from retailers Frankie & Benny’s and Dorothy Perkins.

For further information on Marriotts Walk’s toy appeal and what else is taking place at Marriotts Walk this festive season, visit www.marriottswalk.co.uk.