HUNDREDS of underprivileged children will have an extra special Christmas this year thanks to the generosity of the general public as the Salvation Army Toy Appeal came to an end earlier this week.

More than 160 toy and food boxes put together from the appeal, which is supported by the Gazette &

Herald, were sent out from the

Salvation Army’s Chippenham branch in Foghamshire to needy families using the Children’s Centre and Social Services in the area ahead of Christmas.

Drop-off points around the county have been inundated with toys over the last two months as generous readers dug deep to give the perfect gift.

Corps officer Major Dawn McGarvey, who helped run this year’s appeal, said: “It has been a really good year and I am staggered at how many people remembered our appeal and how many people came to our door with donations.

“We actually had a shortage of toys for children aged three and under last week and the response we got to our Facebook post was fantastic.

“As a result we were able to put together toy boxes for about 100 children from the Children’s Centre last week, about 60 for Social Services and another five for families here.”

The appeal also provided more than 60 food parcels for families in need this Christmas as well, something which Major McGarvey believes is on the increase.

“People can only really afford the essentials at this time of year so to be able to give them things such as biscuits and chocolate and other things they would not be able to afford, goes a long way to making sure families enjoy Christmas in the best way possible.”

Chris Harbury, the manager of Wilko’s, one of this year’s drop-off points, also echoed the need for the appeal and people’s desire to give something back. “We have quite a close relationship with the Salvation Army so we have been working with them on the appeal for the last three or four years,” he said.

“We have filled about three or four cages this year, which is really good and it’s not just been toys, people have donated decorations and trees too.”

Volunteers at the Salvation Army in Chippenham would like to thank drop-off points which have kindly taken in the toys, Goodman Warren Beck, Clever Minds, Wilko’s and Sainsbury’s and the general public, groups and churches for all their generous donations over the last two months.