Can you help bring some festive cheer with the Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal?

Last year, the Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal and Lifestart Services brought a little bit of holiday magic to 100 local children in Donegal by connecting them with volunteer Secret Santas around the county through this heartwarming initiative.

Lifestart Services are a non-profit based in Newtowncunningham that work with hundreds of families in Donegal. This year Lifestart has seen a large increase in the families who need support services, in particular due to increased financial hardship.

They have identified some families who are experiencing poverty and are in need of support this Christmas. The Christmas Toy Appeal is looking for volunteers to become Secret Santas and give a gift of a brighter Christmas for these children this year.

The process is straightforward, and dare it be said, quite fun. The volunteer Secret Santas sign up for the Christmas Toy Appeal, and we pair them with a child. Each Secret Santa receives some anonymous information on their child, including their age, gender, some interests, and a recommended spending limit of €50-€70.

In late November the volunteers drop the gifts to the designated collection points across Donegal, where they are picked up by Lifestart Services and distributed to the families in time for Christmas.

Make someone’s Christmas and sign up to be a Secret Santa today by signing up online or emailing ChristmasToyAppealDonegal@gmail.com

Their online Sign-up form is available here. Check out their Facebook page, or website.

“Christmas can be a challenging time for families, especially those who are on a low income, and especially with the rising cost of living,” Mary Walker Callaghan, Regional Manager of Lifestart Services, said. “In 2022, the Christmas Toy Appeal Donegal made a genuine difference to families across Donegal by reducing stress and feelings of guilt at Christmas, as well as providing some joy and excitement for children and enabling families to have fun together.

The need is even higher in 2023 and we in Lifestart Services believe that every child deserves the gift of play and to enjoy the wonder of Christmas. The Christmas Toy Appeal Donegal is all about making the festive period easier for those families who struggle at Christmas by providing toys to open on the big day. This is a wonderful initiative and Lifestart Services is delighted to partner with the Christmas Toy Appeal Donegal again this year and a big thank you to all the wonderful people who donate to this worthy cause.”

“For some families in Donegal, there have been significant financial challenges which have made 2023 particularly tough,” Louise McCormack, Volunteer at the Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal, said. “Signing up as a Secret Santa offers a meaningful opportunity to give back to our local community by supporting these families who are really struggling. Going out and handpicking gifts, gifts that will be very much appreciated by both the parent and the child, is heartwarming and it gives you a great feeling. "