Toys on the Table appeal launches for 2021

Local radio station HFM is asking listeners to drop off their new toys at the indoor market’ General Hall in Northampton Road, Market Harborough, which will serve as a collection point for the appeal.

Toys for babies to children, aged up to 16, can be donated and must be new and unwrapped. For older children, it can also be a gift – eg. new books, clothing, gloves, hats, toiletries, etc – for girls and boys. 

Toys on the Table is a charity working in the Leicester and Leicestershire area which has enabled thousands of disadvantaged children to receive gifts during the festive period. The charity distributes toys via referrals from social service, foodbanks, schools, and women’s aid groups, with referrals already at a very high level.

Cllr Phil King, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “We’re very pleased that we can once again support the HFM and Toys on the Table appeal, and thank our Market staff for once again helping with this. It has been another difficult year for many people, and this appeal can make a massive difference to the lives of children at Christmas.”

Bill Bowley, from Toys on the Table, said: “The appeal has been going for 40 years and the numbers of children needing help has been going up every year, particularly due to Covid. The support of the people of the Harborough district is very important to us, and over the years HFM and the Council have always supported us and people’s generosity is so appreciated. The positive feedback we get from families who receive the presents is priceless.”    

In 2020, HFM listeners donated over 2,000 new toys to the appeal, and the popular radio station is once again urging people to get behind their campaign, to try and meet that additional need.

Nick Shaw, from HFM, said: “We’re so grateful to Harborough Market for stepping in again this year to be the collection point for the appeal.  Toys On The Table is always fantastically supported by our listeners and it is great they can drop off toys at such a central point in the town. We hope the appeal will once again be a great success and help brighten up Christmas morning for lots of disadvantaged children.”

Toys can be brought in from Tuesday 16 November 2021, during the market’s opening hours (Tues-Sat 8am-4pm and Sun 10am-3pm). The last day for toys to be dropped off at the market is Christmas Eve before 3pm.

Please think about recycling and packaging and shopping sustainably when donating toys. 

Find out more about Toys on the Table on their website.