Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal is looking for 50 people to become Secret Santas to 50 children in Donegal this Christmas. 

Lifestart Services, a non profit based in Newtowncunningham, have identified some families who are struggling with affording gifts for Christmas. 

To help, they launched a toy appeal to match Secret Santas with local children. Each Secret Santa is given the child’s age and some anonymous information on them. They are recommended to spend €50-€70 on the child’s gifts. Lifestart will be collecting gifts from collection points across Donegal in late November and distributing them in time for Christmas to the families. 

Mary Walker Callaghan, Regional Manager, Lifestart Services said: “For those parents who may find it difficult to provide toys for their children at Christmas time, the Secret Santa appeal is a wonderful initiative which helps so many parents and relieves the pressure when everything is so expensive. Every child deserves to experience the magic of Christmas and the Secret Santa Appeal is a way of bringing a little magic to their lives”.

Louise McCormack Volunteer, Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal said: “It is not always easy to make ends meet and some families in Donegal are really struggling this year more than most. Shopping as a Secret Santa is a rewarding way to give back to the local community. It feels special to go and pick out gifts you know will be cherished by the parent who gets to give them and the child that receives them.”

Make someone’s Christmas and sign up to be a Secret Santa today by emailing ChristmasToyAppealDonegal@gmail.com 

Online Sign up form: https://forms.gle/wVcWnxz7g4wEXbK88