News release
01 November 2022
Christmas Toy Appeal launched to help disadvantaged children in Halton
Disadvantaged children in Halton are set for a Christmas boost with a donation of brand-new toys worth £4,000 donated by merseyflow and Mersylink to help kick-start Halton Children’s Centres annual Christmas Toy Appeal.
Merseyflow has joined forces with Merseylink (the consortium responsible for the design, construction, financing and operation of the Mersey Gateway Project assets) to support hundreds of children from some of Halton’s most deprived areas by donating £2,000 of toys and gifts each.
Merseyflow is also encouraging its staff and customers to use its Walk-in Centre in Manor Park in Runcorn as a drop-off point for toys.
The toys need to be new and unopened and would need to be dropped off at merseyflow’s Walk-in Centre by Sunday 11th December before 6pm at the latest. The team is looking for a range of gifts and toys to appeal in particular to children aged 0-5 years old, as that is the focus of this year’s appeal. Gifts for all children up to the age of 18 can also be donated.
Merseyflow’s staff are already adding to that by donating toys and Christmas presents to support the good cause.
This is the fourth year that merseyflow has supported Halton Children’s Centres over the festive season, collecting hundreds of donations to help brighten Christmas for those in need.
Helen Williams, Marketing Manager at merseyflow, said: “Every year we have had an amazing response and are overwhelmed by the generosity of our thoughtful customers and staff.
“We’re hoping this year will be no different as we begin to collect donations for this excellent cause, and are urging people to get involved. Supporting the local community in Halton and the surrounding areas is very important to us, which is why we wanted to give the appeal a jump start with a donation of our own to ensure every child in Halton has the Christmas they deserve.”
Hugh O’Connor, General Manager of the Merseylink Consortium, said: “We’ve supported Halton Children Centres appeal for several years now and are happy we’re able to contribute again to this wonderful cause. Every child deserves a present at Christmas and we’re hopeful that more people to get involved and donate.”
Denise Caldwell, Early Help Office at Runcorn Children’s Centres, said: “Every toy and gift donated will be given to local children here in Halton this Christmas. Even the smallest donation is welcome and will go a long way to helping every child in Halton wake up to a gift on Christmas morning. After a tough year for fundraising, this boost from merseyflow and Merseylink will really help to kick start our annual Christmas appeal.”
The merseyflow walk-in-centre is open Monday to Friday 9am-7pm and on Sunday from 9am-6pm. The address is 9 Howard Court, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1SJ.