More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A heartwarming response to a toy appeal means hundreds of children in Deal and Dover will receive "good as new" gifts this Christmas.
Volunteers Chrissi Dunn and Kerry Banks BEM set up Deal Dolls Hospital, asking for unwanted dolls, toys and accessories which they could makeover to be re-gifted to families in need of a helping hand.
More than 700 donations including soft toys, Barbies, play kitchens, Hot Wheels cars, magic sets and Lego were recieved, some from as far as Wales and Scotland.
Having been put through the washing machine, disinfected or bathed and restyled with fresh hair-dos and knitted clothes, Ms Banks says the "good as new" presents are now ready to go out.
She and Ms Dunn are working with Home-Start and Oasis but are also urging families not connected to these local causes to reach out before Friday, December 4.
Miss Banks said: "The aim of the project is to help people who really need it this Christmas and the response has been truly heartwarming.
"We don't want people to feel embarrassed. We just need to know the age and sex of their children and where we can safely drop off the items. It is all entirely confidential and no judgement will be made."
The work will begin on Friday when Mark Chittenden of MDC Removals, who has kindly donating his time and van, will transport many of the gifts to Home-Start in Dover.
The charity based in Noah's Ark Road is currently providing support to over 100 families in Deal and Dover.
Many are working families who, manager Tracy Perrow says, live in the poverty trap and are struggling to make ends meet.
Others have a disability and some have fallen on hard times because of a job loss, illness, debt or domestic abuse.
Ms Perrow said: "We have continued to support families during the first lockdown, in between, and now the second lockdown.
"A lot of the people we support have found it really difficult and quite challenging.
"Some mums are suffering with anxiety and stress and having children at home has really impacted them all.
"Some have got eight or nine children and so to try and buy Christmas presents for all of them is difficult.
"Appeals like this just take the pressure off, knowing they have something under the tree for their children.
"We want to do what we can to help them have a positive Christmas."
Mrs Banks is meeting with domestic abuse service Oasis next Friday to organise the distributing of any remainder toys to children in refuges.
Families in need of support this Christmas are asked to make contact via Facebook 'Deal Dolls Hospital' or call Chrissi on 01304 274931 or Kerry on 07708913976, in confidence.
