The Great Salisbury Toy Appeal Trolly Dash to Buy Presents for Pantries

Some of the team involved with The Great Salisbury Toy Appeal gathered at Smyths Toy Superstore in Salisbury on Friday evening to buy hundreds of toys.

Led by Shaun and Cathryn Osmund of Ozweld International, the shoppers were given age ranges and numbers of toys to buy based on the information provided by the Salisbury Pantry and the Old Sarum and Longhegde Pantry of the families registered with them. 

The shoppers picked up presents ranging from Duplo and dolls for little ones to skateboards and board games for older children, with a great range to suit different tastes and interests. 

The team at Symths helped scan, pack and organise all the toys bought, with manager Dan Sanger ensuring everything went smoothly. Smyths themselves also donated several hundred pounds to enable even more toys to be purchased. 

The toys purchased during the dash will be added to the hundreds of other toys that have already been donated at the drop off points. 

Caythrn Osmund said, "It's absolutely amazing, you know, when you get that warm fuzzy feeling. I am so excited that we are able to help over 500 children in and around Salisbury. 

"We're going to sort all the toys by age group and category. The pantry volunteers are then going to take the toys, wrap them and then distribute them."

Gemma Phillips, manager of the Old Sarum and Longhedge Pantry, was also on the dash and said, "It's going to make a massive difference. Tonight, we noticed how expensive toys are. So, having a good toy for every child is going to be incredible and will take a burden off of so many families. 

"To see the smile on their faces and know they have got something to open on Christmas morning, it's just nice to know that everyone comes together when they need to."

The cost-of-living crisis has left many families relying on food banks and pantries to help them get by every week. With hundreds of families registered at the two pantries that cover Salisbury, Old Sarum, and Longhedge, the appeal aimed to help these families make their Christmas a little more magical. 

You can still donate via the JustGiving page or by dropping a brand-new toy off at one of the following 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

DONATE HERE

The deadline for donating to the toy appeal is Friday, 13th December, so toys can be sorted before the pantries distribute them. 

Any excess toys not required by the members of the pantries will be donated to Women's Refuge.