30/12/2025
I would like to take a moment, now that the hubbub of Christmas has subsided somewhat, to provide an update and extend our sincere thanks to all of you who donated to this year's Toy Drive or assisted us in other ways.
We have been truly blown away by the generosity of all those who have supported our project this year.
Firstly, to our toy donors, a huge, huge, thank you. We could not have done this without you. Having personally spoken to each and every family on our referral list, the difference you have made, not only to the children who woke to your kind gifts on Christmas morning, but to their wider families, cannot, and should not be underestimated. You have made what could have been a very stressful and sad day for many of these families truly wonderful. So to you, a heartfelt thank you.
We received so many fabulous pre-loved toy donations that, in just two weeks, we managed to fill No toy left behind's store. We are confident that these toys will be enjoyed by children again and again over the coming weeks!
We also received enough new toys and gifts to cater to all the families referred to us by East Devon District Council , whose support we are truly grateful for, as it has helped us reach those in most need.
Where we had a few gaps for children with more niche interests or where we didn't have quite the right mix of gifts for the ages of those on our referral list, we were able to source gifts from some of our local independent retailers, who provided excellent advice and some donations as well. Special thanks to The Fabric Shop, Axminster Printing Co., Lawson Computer Repair, Archway Bookshop, and Acorn Gift Shop.
We received a few toys that were not quite the right match for the children on our referral list this year due to their age or interests. These will be sent to an organisation that helps vulnerable families in the most challenging situations, such as those fleeing domestic violence and abuse, and will be distributed throughout the year. We can't tag those involved here due to the sensitivity of their roles, but we have been working with them for several years, and these toys will greatly benefit the children they support.
Many other local businesses, organisations, and individuals were kind enough to host our posters, which really helped us spread the word. And, without the support of Axminster Town Council and The Axminster Guildhall, we would have had nowhere to act as our toy drop-off/repository/sorting station, so we owe a debt of gratitude to each of them, too.
On a personal level, we extend our sincere thanks to Kate Edgell, who has meticulously logged each and every donation as it has arrived, which has been an enormous help in matching toys to children.
As you can see, this has truly been a team effort, and we could not have done it without any of you. And because we know just how much of an impact this has had for the families we have supported this year, we are already considering how we might tackle Christmas 2026.
So from me (Sarah) and Paul, a huge thank you, Merry Christmas, and may we wish you all a happy and healthy new year! ๐ฅณ๐ฅ
