The residents and businesses of Haringey are being urged to support a Winter Toy Appeal that provides local children facing hardship with much-needed Christmas presents.
The appeal – run by the Local Buyers Club with Location Location estate agency –now stretches across North and East London and typically delivers gifts to more than 3,000 children who would otherwise go without on Christmas Day.
Now in its 12th year, the campaign has collected more than 37,000 toys since 2014. Haringey Council is once again helping distribute donations to families most in need, alongside Hackney Council.
Jenna Fansa, founder of the Winter Toy Appeal, said:
“Please help ensure children experiencing extreme hardship in Haringey and Hackney have a special gift to open this winter by donating a gift to our appeal.
While so many children are excitedly writing their letters to Santa, thousands are experiencing high levels of deprivation and are unlikely to receive a gift.
This appeal is a way to come together as a community and to ensure the festive magic extends to every child.”
Cllr Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council, added:
“Since its inception in 2014, local young children and their families here in Haringey and our neighbouring boroughs have received tens of thousands of toys thanks to the Local Buyers Club’s Winter Toy Appeal.
Once again this year, council staff will be working in tandem with the appeal’s organisers to ensure Haringey kids can play with their presents at Christmas – a fun and festive experience they might not otherwise get to enjoy.
If you’re able, it would be great and very much appreciated if you could support this year’s Winter Toy Appeal. In doing so, you’ll be spreading some Christmas cheer to members of our Haringey community, putting smiles on people’s faces and helping to support a family in need.”
This year’s donation options are designed to make giving as easy as possible. Residents can buy from the Haringey Amazon Wish List, pick up a new toy at Soup Dragon in Crouch End (with a 20% discount for online purchases using the code WINTERTOYAPPEAL), donate via GoFundMe, or drop off new toys at participating libraries across the borough.
Libraries collecting donations include: Alexandra Park, Coombes Croft, Highgate, Hornsey, Marcus Garvey, Muswell Hill, St Ann’s and Stroud Green and Harringay.
Toys ordered from the Wish List will be delivered directly to the Maya Angelou Rising Roots Family Hub in Wood Green, while all GoFundMe donations are spent with independent toy shops in London to support children across the capital.
Organisers are asking donors to spend around £15 per gift to help ensure every child receives something special – and of similar value – on Christmas morning.
The final deadline to donate is Tuesday 16 December 2025.
