Annual toy appeal cancelled
13/11/2020
Mayor: “It was a desperately sad decision to make”
The Mayor of Banbury’s annual Christmas toy appeal has been cancelled this year because of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The appeal, first organised nearly 20 years ago, provides Christmas presents for the children of needy families when parents do not have the money to buy gifts.
Mayor John Colegrave said: “We considered all possibilities but the terms of the lockdown, the possibility of further restrictions in December, and the time factor means we can’t go ahead.
“It was a desperately sad decision to make.”
To help compensate for the cancellation, Cllr Colegrave has nominated the Sunshine Centre – whose staff and volunteers would have distributed the toys – as his chosen charity this mayoral year. It means the centre could receive several thousand pounds in May 2021.
He is asking residents who would have donated gifts to contribute to his charity fund instead.
Cllr Colegrave said: “I’m asking everyone who would have given toys – and people in general – to get involved by giving to my charity fund.
“I will, depending on the virus situation, organise a number of fund-raising events in the new year to boost the total and 100% of the fund will go to the Sunshine Centre.
“I hope people support those events just as they would have supported the toy appeal.”
Listen to our interview with Banbury’s Town Mayor Cllr John Colegrave here:
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
