Kind-hearted residents, schools and businesses have donated thousands of gifts to Caerphilly County Borough Council’s annual gift appeal.
Operation Santa is the authority’s project to provide support, gifts and toys to more than 800 disadvantaged children who are not helped by any other appeals.
This year 2,500 gifts, selection boxes and vouchers have been donated, meaning the scheme is also able to support children associated with Llamau, Gofal, Homestart, Action for Children and Ty’r Fesen Homeless Centre.
The appeal, which opened to the public in November, saw businesses such as Creditsafe, DS Smith, Ecolab, General Dynamics and TSW Training help to collect the donations.
Gifts were also donated by St Helens School and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, and volunteers will now give up their time to help sort the mountain of gifts into age categories and bag them up in preparation for delivery to the children in time for Christmas.
In addition to the gifts, young adults who have recently left the care system and will be living independently this Christmas for the first time will receive a hamper containing food items and a few treats to enjoy over the festive period.
Cabinet Member for Social Care and Wellbeing, Cllr Carl Cuss, said: “It is truly heart-warming to see this mountain of gifts donated for this appeal. It never fails to amaze me how residents, businesses, schools and community organisations pull together and demonstrate such community spirit to help those in need.
“I would like to extend my sincere thanks on behalf of everyone at Caerphilly County Borough Council to everyone who pledged a gift or made a donation, helping to make this appeal such a success.”