Make a child's Christmas by donating a gift this year

BARNARDOS has launched its annual Christmas Toy Appeal, supported by GLS ParcelShops, and the children’s charity is asking shoppers in Mayo to help make a child’s Christmas by donating a gift this year.

Every Christmas Barnardos needs gifts for children of all ages, from babies through to teenagers. The charity asks that all gifts are new and unwrapped, and has a handy gift guide available on its website - www.barnardos.ie - to help shoppers choose age-appropriate toys and gifts.

For the seventh year running, GLS ParcelShops are supporting the Barnardos Toy Appeal. Drop your gift off at any of 180 GLS ParcelShops nationwide by Friday, December 16, and it will be delivered to Barnardos in time for Christmas. To find your local GLS ParcelShops, visit www.barnardos.ie/toyappeal.

In Mayo, GLS ParcelShops are located in: Spain's Cards & Gifts, Main Street, Swinford; Knock Shrine Bookshop, Knock Shrine, Knock; Walkin's Gift Shop, Main Street, Ballinrobe; The Shop, Main Street, Ballyhaunis; Ink4Europe Ltd., Chapel Street, Castlebar; Dunning's Pub and Cyber Cafe, The Octagon, Westport; and Geraghty Motors, Bridge Road, Belmullet.

Speaking at the launch of this year's toy appeal, Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay said: “For most of us, Christmas brings up happy memories. But for many of the families we work with in Barnardos, it can be a burden. Thousands of children and families are facing hardships every day across the country – and we see first-hand the extra pressure they come under at Christmas.”

Barnardos provides specialised early intervention and prevention services to over 13,100 children and families in 40 communities across Ireland.

It is requested that all gifts for the Barnardos Toy Appeal are new and worth about €10, to ensure that all children get something of equal quality. If you can't make it to a GLS location, you can choose to give an online gift of any value by visiting www.barnardos.ie.