Christmas toys in need of donations.
As a result of the financial crisis, Birmingham City Mission is receiving fewer donations to its Toy Link scheme this year than expected.
Due to the cost of living crisis causing Britons to scale back on Christmas many families are unable to afford buying Christmas presents, as well as donating to charities.
With over 100,000 children living in poverty in Birmingham, BCM’s annual initiative, Toy Link, works to ensure that thousands of children across the city receive Christmas presents.
Sarah Pitchford, Birmingham City Mission’s Childrens Worker, told the Reporter and the Detective that for the first time in years, Toy Link has been experiencing a shortfall of donations.
She said: “People are finding it harder to make ends meet. The price of everything has increased from basics to rent and mortgages. I think people are finding it harder to have extra money to donate to charitable causes.”
The Children's workers explained that in the event that the organisation ran out of toys, they would purchase toys for Toy Link.
“We understand that people are under pressure but we are not able to buy enough toys for the amount of families we have referred to us, so we are in need of donations;” she said.
Birmingham City Mission's Leader Jonathan Hackett, added that the project understands that ‘there’s a struggle for a lot of families that will be in more need to receive.’
“Some won’t be able to give as generously as they have done in the past,that really shows us that this is as necessary as it ever has been with what we’re doing.”
Hackett also said it was ‘possible’ for people who have previously donated could be now in need of gifts for their families.
“We don’t keep a record of people who have donated in the past as we get a number of donations from different sources and streams.”
If you would like to volunteer or donate to the Toy Link project click here.