Kind-hearted Caerphilly County Borough residents have donated 3,500 presents to needy children as part of this year’s Operation Santa charity appeal.
More than 650 disadvantaged local children were nominated by social workers to receive the presents through the appeal organised by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
Cllr Judith Pritchard, cabinet member for social services, said: “Despite tough economic times for us all, this certainly hasn’t deterred kind hearted residents from supporting this year’s Operation Santa appeal.
“We received approximately three and half thousand presents, which I am sure will go some way to ensuring some of our county borough’s most deprived children will receive some festive cheer this Christmas. Thank you so much to all who got involved in this excellent project.”
Operation Santa also helped families working with charities LLamau, Action for Children Home-Start and Gofal Cymru.
Schools from across the county borough also got involved by purchasing items for special hampers for youngsters who have recently left the care system, and may be spending their first Christmas alone.
These hampers, which contained little luxuries, toiletries and food, were kindly put together by students at Heolddu and Blackwood Comprehensive School.