VULNERABLE children across the borough received a Christmas present this year thanks to a church congregation.
More than 1,000 brand new toys were collected for 500 of the most vulnerable children in Solihull who might not otherwise have received any Christmas presents.
The toys were donated by the congregation at Renewal on Lode Lane for families identified as being in real financial need by local agencies.
The families were then invited to choose which free gifts they would like for their children at a Christmas pop-up shop at Renewal’s Family Centre in Chelmsley Wood.
Samantha Doras, who organised the Toy Offering at Renewal, said: “Each child should be able to experience some Christmas sparkle this year, no matter what their circumstances are.
“Church shouldn’t just be about what happens on a Sunday, but is about how you interact with the world around you the rest of the time.
“This is one way we can show our community we care.”
The Toy Offering was originally organised to help struggling families in Renewal’s congregation, but has grown to include over 500 children a year referred by agencies including schools, The Early Help Team at Solihull Council, Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid, Entraide who work with asylum seekers, NHS practices and the Police.
