Members of Sun Chemical’s Well-Being Committee have been working hard over the past few days, wrapping hundreds of presents donated to Time is Precious.
The presents, which were donated by local residents at drop-off points around the area, such as Eye Tech IT in Midsomer Norton, who collected around 200 gifts, and the Oak Tree Day Nursery at Bath Spa University, are now wrapped and ready to be distributed to children spending Christmas in hospital by local charity, Time is Precious.
For the past couple of years, Time is Precious have been organising present donations in conjunction with local businesses to allow sick children and their families a little bit of light relief over Christmas.
“We were absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of the town and the sheer number of presents donated by local residents. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone that was able to bring a gift,” said Kath Adams, Business Development Coordinator at Eye-Tech IT, one of the drop-off points in Midsomer Norton. “We are thrilled to be supporting Time is Precious for a second year in their fantastic work, and hope these gifts will help to make Christmas Day a special time for lots of local families.”
Debbie Plummer, from Sun Chemical, said: “People have been really generous – we’ve got around 500 gifts this year that the Well-Being Committee have been wrapping during their lunchtimes and after work. Even the wrapping paper was donated by International Greetings from South Wales.”
Nicky Halford, one of the charity’s founders, said: “Time is Precious would like to thank every single person who has donated Christmas presents for sick children in our local hospitals. The response has been absolutely overwhelming and we have enough presents to put a smile on every single child’s face that is in hospital, leading up to Christmas.
“Christmas is a time for children and families to be together. To be in hospital over this festive period is not ideal, but some have to be, whether it is for cancer or leukaemia treatment, kidney dialysis, heart defects, rehabilitation etc.
“Therefore, by giving each and every one of them a gift, it will really brighten up their day, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We would also like to thank Sun Chemical, who have kindly offered to wrap the presents this year.”
Time is Precious, founded by Neil and Nicky Halford in 2011, was set up to support not just those children who, because of illness or disability, find themselves in hospital for treatment, but also their families and siblings.
The presents will be delivered to Bristol Children’s Hospital this coming Friday, with a drop-off at the RUH to be arranged.
Nicky added: “We will be posting as many photographs as possible onto our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Timeisprecious.org/ to show everyone where and how their gifts have helped. We have had a donation of a Pandora bracelet, which will be given to a young girl undergoing a bone marrow transplant over the Christmas period – she’s only eleven.”
Time is Precious are hoping to repeat the Christmas present donations again next year. Any businesses in the area who would like to be involved as collection points or helping with wrapping, please contact Nicky or Neil Halford by emailing: [email protected]