BUSINESSES have partnered up with the Advertiser as part of our annual Christmas Toy Appeal.

We believe that every child deserves a gift this Christmas and we have been blown away by the levels of support shown by the community in previous years.

As such, the Advertiser has teamed up with a number of businesses and the Gate Foodbank to ensure we can help as many children as possible.

The businesses signed up to help us are Allanwater Homes, Foz Sports Bodyshop, Little Stars Nursery, Affinity Sterling Mills and the Carpet Gallery.

We will be including a gift bag with copies of the Advertiser on Wednesday, November 27 and we are asking readers to purchase a small gift to donate and drop off at The Gate’s headquarters on 2 Ludgate, Alloa, FK10 1DS.

Additional drop-off points have now been set up at Allanwater Homes and the Carpet Gallery.

Jay-Anne McLaughlin, foodbank development coordinator with The Gate, highlighted the importance that an appeal like this can have on families.

She said: “The appeal worked really well last year, we got loads of people in so we’re looking for new toys this year to give out for Christmas.

GENEROUS: Our Toy appeal sponsors have once again backed the campaign.GENEROUS: Our Toy appeal sponsors have once again backed the campaign. (Image: Newsquest) “It’s so important and people are so generous, every year we think people can’t be any more generous but the amount of support that the community provide is so heartwarming.

“It’s really important that even if it’s just a small thing that someone hands in – it really makes all the difference to people who are really struggling.

“Everyone is really grateful to everything that we hand out and it is just so nice to be able to help those that doesn’t have the money to buy things for their children.”

The Gate are looking for a range of gifts to appeal to both boys and girls – with an added emphasis on items for older children as well.

Gifts for teenagers are in high demand, with toys sought for both young children and babies too.

Support from the businesses has been outstanding already, with Carpet Gallery donating a large bundle of toys to the appeal.

They, along with Allanwater Homes have now signed up as additional drop off points for the Toy Appeal.