Everything you need to know about Christmas toy campaigns in Hull and the surrounding areas

We have featured two huge drives for toy donations in recent weeks

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Christmas toy donation campaigns – how to get involved and where to donate

• The Christmas Toy Drive is one of two campaigns we have featured recently. It was founded by Andrew Banks in 2013 after his daughter went in hospital with a severe abscess just before Christmas. She was treated and sent home two days before Christmas – but on their way out the family saw lots of Children who would still be in over the festive period, many of whom may not see family or receive presents.
• The charity’s mission since then has been to make sure no child wakes up without a gift on Christmas morning. Last year, the Christmas Toy Drive supported children through North Lincolnshire Council’s Fostering & Adoption Team, Scunthorpe General Hospital Disney Children’s Ward, Grimsby Hospital Children’s Ward, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull Women & Children’s Hospital.
• This year organisers have teamed up with schools and pastoral support teams, food banks and community pantries, family hubs and women’s and family support services to reach more families who may be struggling, many of whom quietly fall through the cracks.
• There are currently more than 30 official drop-off points, following an “incredible” response from the community. Those who want to take part can donate a new, wrapped toy – for any price – labelled with the child’s approximate age and gender, and drop it off at a collection point.
• Donation points are based all around the region, including The Brigg Martial Arts Centre, Barton Martial Arts in Barton-upon-Humber, The Haven Inn in Barrow Haven, Beyoutiful Nails in Ulceby, The Cookie People, Scunthorpe and Sykes Motor Services Ltd, Brigg.
• For the full list of all the donation points read our full story here. It includes more information from the campaign founders.
• Meanwhile in Hull, four thoughtful children – Lift Kingswood pupils Thea, 11, Ava, 12, and Phoebe, 12, and Sirius North pupil Laurie, 11 – have launched their ‘Santa Squad’ campaign for a fourth year, which will be giving out more than 1,000 gifts. The children and families most in need are identified through partners, such as schools, homeless shelters, and domestic violence shelters and they have the task of securing presents for 1,181 referrals locally.
• If you want to help the Santa Squad out, they have an Amazon wish list. There are also Santa Squad drop-off points, including several businesses in Hull, where people can deliver gifts in person ahead of distribution. There is a GoFundMe page too where people can donate money used to purchase gifts. This year, Phoebe, Ava, Laurie and Thea climbed the equivalent height of the Humber Bridge at Rock Up indoor climbing wall to raise money.
• You can read the full story on the four Santa Squad members and their charitable efforts in full here: Charitable Hull children need your help giving 1,000 gifts to city’s most disadvantaged