The CMPP Ultimate Christmas Toy Drive reached a spectacular conclusion as over 1000 toys, games and presents for children were collected, carried off to the North Pole (looking a lot like The Hub at Farnbrough Business Park) in Santa's sleigh (ok, Beryl the CMPP volunteering van!) and gift wrapped by an army of Santa's elves - more accurately a team of 36 volunteers from Alphabet. Let the festive season begin!
Rachel Austen who oversaw the project from beginning to end was beaming as the Elves works their magic: 'The CMPP Toy Drive was brought back this year at the request of our Members and what a brilliant success it has proved to be.
Both The Village Hotel and Farnbrough Business Park stepped up and offered fantastic support for the collection, providing valuable space for donations to be dropped off and kept safe. They really got into the spirit of this initiative - without their enthusiasm and whole-hearted support we would never have been able to do this.
And of course, our wonderful Members have played their part to, arranging work-place toy collections and taking sacks filled with Christmas gifts to the Village and the Hub.'
CMPP partnered with Hampshire-based charity Spotlight who work actively with children and young people from underserved communities in the area. The beautifully wrapped toys will now be taken to reappear as welcome gifts to brighten the lives at Christmas.
A perceptive person once said that we make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give: how true this seems to all of us at CMPP this Christmas. A massive thank you to everyone who got involved in the Toy Drive this year - same again in 2024!
