TWO Gunnislake residents are ensuring no child goes without a gift in the local area this Christmas thanks to their Mini Christmas Toy Recycling Project.

Lacinda Allen and Steph Hobbs are ensuring Santa Claus visits every child and leaves them a gift to wake up to on Christmas morning this year.

The project sees the two ladies taking in all kinds of good quality second-hand toys including board games, books and teddy bears which are then placed into bundles for collection and offered to less fortunate families or to parents struggling financially this year.

They kindly ask that items such as games and puzzles are checked and then sealed with a tiny tab of sellotape so that no one is given a product which is faulty or with pieces or components missing or broken.

They also take in new unwanted gifts left over from last year or donated new toys that anyone may like to purchase for a child within the care system.

Children in care receive only a small amount of money for gifts and the homes they live in are given no extra cash for budgeting for things like Christmas food or decorations most people enjoy during the festive period.

With younger children placed often placed in foster homes, it is often those 11+ years in care homes, therefore these children are prioritised as they are the ones waking without families or gifts, which, to many, are the most important parts of Christmas.

Lacinda and Steph fervently encourage people to clear out bedrooms and closets for this best of causes or even to add an extra gift to this year’s shopping list to show children in need that there is support out there for them.

The drop off address for toys is: Maple Hayes, Delaware Road, Gunnislake, Cornwall PL18 9AS.

Alternatively, any parents who are struggling this year are encouraged to contact Steph or Lucinda through their Facebook group Cornish Mini Xmas Toy Recycling Project or through groups the Facebook pages Calstock Community Forum or Gunnislake Community Matters.