SALISBURY residents are being asked to help make a child’s Christmas that extra bit more special this year.

A toy appeal was launched earlier this month by Salisbury Radio with the aim of providing a Christmas present for children from families who might otherwise go without this Christmas.

More than 500 people could benefit from the appeal, Salisbury Radio has said.

Toys can be dropped off at seven locations around the town before the deadline of December 13.

Cathryn Osmond from Osweld International, one of the organisations behind the appeal, said, “It’s been so hard the last few years.

“So many families are struggling across our community, and a lot of people won’t ask for help.

“I don’t think any child should ever miss out on Christmas, you know, the excitement of opening a new toy.

“And so we just sort of decided, let’s try and reinstate the great toy appeal and give a child a Christmas.”

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has left many families relying on food banks and pantries to help them get by on a weekly basis.

With hundreds of families registered at the two pantries that cover Salisbury and Old Sarum and Longhedge, the appeal aims to help these families make their Christmas a little more magical.

Gemma Phillips from the Old Sarum & Longhedge Pantry said: “Every child deserves a magical Christmas.

“It doesn’t have to be hundreds of pounds worth of toys or anything like that, but something to open on Christmas and to have that experience of Santa… just that magical feeling that we all had as children.

“Why should this generation of children miss out because of something is completely out of their hands? We are working with Oswald International and the pantry in Salisbury to try to get every child a toy.”

Businesses across the city have already signed up to support the toy appeal, acting as collection points and donating to the cause.

Presents can be dropped off at drop-off points and people are also being encouraged to donate via the JustGiving Page.

Once the money has been collected, the team will complete a trolley dash at Symths Toys in Salisbury before the presents are handed over to the Pantries.

The toy superstore on Churchill Way West is supporting the appeal by helping the team with the trolley dash and donating money to the cause.

Present drop-off locations:

• Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm – Amesbury Road, Cholderton
• Fexco Property Services – 84 Fisherton Street, Salisbury
• JCP Engineers – Mills Way, Amesbury
• Ozweld International – Barnack Industrial Estate, Wilton
• Pro-Tyre – Edison Road, Churchfields Ind Estate, Salisbury
• Porton Garden, Aquatic & Pet Centre – Porton
• Snow Bar – Salisbury’s Guildhall Square