Donations come in during last days of Christmas Toy Appeal

Last week, the Recorder reported that The Kevin Jenkins OBE Newham Christmas Toy Appeal had reached its target for providing toys for underprivileged children.

But donations have continued to be presented to charity Ambition, Aspire, Achieve (AAA) which runs the appeal in conjunction with this paper and Community Links.

Staff at Gallions Reach Shopping Park, Beckton, and its retailers joined forces to provide more toys.

The park's team helped out at the toy warehouse earlier in the appeal and the shopping park also acted as a drop-off point for toy donations by shoppers.

TK Maxx ran an in-house toy collection with £300 worth of items. Smyths Toys donated £200 worth of arts and crafts activities, while the shopping park itself donated £500 worth of toys.

Centre manager Andy Pay said: “Since we began our involvement with the appeal two years ago, we have been amazed by the generosity of those that donate and by the volunteers who give up their time.”

In the final week, The Rotary Club of Newham first presented toys and then a cheque for £500 to AAA chief executive Jonny Boux.

Workers from the Vinci Construction Company, involved in building work on the new UCL campus at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, raised £519 from a Christmas jumper day fundraiser.

John Ratomski, from Irons Supporting Foodbanks, made a third donation to the appeal – this time 250 selection packs.

Another football fillip for the campaign came from London based Liverpool fans, who are working with John to support local causes.

Liverpool FC supporters group Red Indians donated £1,000 towards the appeal (Image: AAA)

Appeal organiser Paula Blake and Mr Boux received £1,000 from Raj Handhi of the Red Indians fans' group.

Workers from the Tideway super sewer scheme presented gifts to AAA’s Marie Poinsamy at the charity's Arc In The Park base in Canning Town.

Staff from the Tideway super sewer build hand over gifts to AAA (Image: AAA)

Others to present toys included Lister Community School in Plaistow, luxury brand Burberry and Mick White’s Furniture Discount, also in Plaistow.

Zoe Agada, bar associate from the Miller’s Well pub in Barking Road, East Ham, and Louise Stewart, one of the managers, handed over toys to the appeal too.

Mick White’s Furniture Discount in Plaistow presented a toy donation (Image: AAA)

AAA volunteers also helped stage a Christmas party for youngsters at the Arc In The Park.