Peterborough charity on mission to make special Christmas memories for city children with mammoth 1,000 present giveaway
Peterborough charity, The Zi Foundation, will be making this Christmas extra special for hundreds of children in the city by giving away over 1,000 presents.
The big giveaway is being undertaken by the charity which has made a name for itself in Peterborough for its charitable deeds such as feeding the community for free during the Covid pandemic, supporting families in poverty and offering help to people struggling with their mental health.
Organisers Ivelina Banyalieva and Gintare Karinauskaite (who runs Lithuanian restaurant Kaimas on Lincoln Road) are on a mission to collect ang give away over 1,000 new or unused toys, arts and crafts and other gifts to present to underprivileged families or ones simply struggling to be able to afford presents this year.
The presents will all be given away by Santa himself at a large event in December, with the date and time to be confirmed.
In order to help make this a reality, an appeal for new and unused today and/or arts and craft supplies has been launched.
Volunteers are willing to do home pick ups but drop off points have also been created at The Pearl Hotel (77 Lincoln Road, PE1 2SH) and Kaimas (561-563 Lincoln Road, PE1 2PB).
Donations can be accepted up to December 1.
To arrange a collection, email [email protected] or message the Kaimas Facebook page.
To find out more and ti register a child to receive a gift, visit https://zifoundation.co.uk/1000-christmas-presents-give-away/.
Ivelina said: “We know how difficulty things are for families at the moment and especially at Christmas time. There are families where parents are making a choice between topping up the electricity or gas, putting food on the table and buying their children presents.
"We want to use this event to put a smile on the faces of families and bring some Christmas spirit. We are hoping that all communities will come together to support this initiative.”
Gintare added: “We want to be there to help families, especially ones who may have to be making the choice that they just can’t afford presents this Christmas. All of the information will be given will be treated in the strictest confidence and we really want to hear from as many people as possible.”