Clan Christmas Toy Appeal will bring ‘gift of joy’ to children

THE Glasgow Clan is organising a Christmas toy collection for a local charity at their next home game on Saturday. (November 19)

The professional ice hockey club, sponsored by Aspray Glasgow West, is urging fans to bring a new toy along to their match against Coventry Blaze at Braehead Arena to support their bid to make sure youngsters from struggling families don’t miss out on gifts at Christmas.

All the toys collected will be handed over to the Renfrewshire Toy Bank whose founder, Lauren Roy-Sutherland says that the Glasgow Clan Christmas toy appeal “will bring joy to children”.

The toy bank is desperately in need of toys for children of all ages, including for babies and toddlers, along with gifts for teenagers, selection boxes, board games, books, arts and crafts activities, board games and even sets of new pyjamas.

The Clan will set up a collection point for toy donations outside the entrance to the Braehead Ice Centre, next to Costa Coffee in the lower mall, between 5pm and 7pm when the game starts and at the Clan Official Supporters Club table in the Arena Foyer, between match periods.

Gareth Chalmers, managing director of Braehead Arena, which is home to the Clan, said: “We are acutely aware that many families are struggling in the current cost of living crisis.

“And it breaks your heart to think that some children will feel sad and left out if they wake up on Christmas Day and there is not the same amount of presents for them as some of their friends will get.

“It’s not the fault of the parents that they can’t afford lots of Christmas presents for their kids because they’re having to pay huge rises in energy bills and general living costs.

“Clan fans are known for their generosity when it comes to charity and I hope they will donate lots of toys, so that children won’t be disappointed and they’ll see that Santa has left them lots of gifts.”

Lauren continued: “I want to say a huge thank you to the Glasgow Clan for organising this toy collection. Because the donations are of new toys, children won’t know their gifts have been donated and they’ll be getting the same as their peers.

“Everyone who donates to the Clan toy appeal will be like a secret Santa to children and they’ll be giving a gift of joy.”