We are a local initiative, Bags of Blessings, which aims to distribute a Christmas gift bag to every child whose family is dependent on local food banks or Sharewear clothing.

We are parents and members of the local community, working with assistance from Gedling Play Forum, who recognise that not all children will have a bountiful Christmas. Our plan is to reassure children that they are not forgotten and to restore hope through the generosity of strangers.

We are launching an appeal to local schools and churches for donations of sweets or small, pocket money type toys, with the aim of placing 4 or 5 items and a card from Santa in festive gift bags. Our hope is to have collection points in schools, churches, shops and local businesses where people can drop off items between now and mid to late November. Volunteers are on hand to fill the bags and distribution will begin during the first week in Advent.

Our time is limited and we have to move quickly: By 12 October we aim to have contacted all schools and churches in the local area. Our social media campaign will be up and running, too. Once agreed, we will deliver collecting boxes, with the plan that they will all be in place by 17 October. We will be liaising with our collection points from then until 19 November when we will start bringing our boxes back to base ready to fill the bags during the last week of November.