Melton mum collects hundreds of Christmas toys for struggling families

A Melton woman has collected hundreds of donated toys and has started giving them out to families who are struggling financially this Christmas.
By Nick Rennie
Published 14th Dec 2020, 16:42 BST
Melton mum Lisa Godber in the hall at The Grove Primary School with some of the hundreds of donated toys she has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125531001Melton mum Lisa Godber in the hall at The Grove Primary School with some of the hundreds of donated toys she has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125531001
Melton mum Lisa Godber in the hall at The Grove Primary School with some of the hundreds of donated toys she has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125531001

Lisa Godber was motivated to do it, she says, because she knew so many people had lost their jobs in this pandemic-hit year and they were worried about being able to afford festive gifts for their children.

She has spent two months collecting over 500 toys, helped by donations from local supermarkets, Tesco Express and Morrisons, as well residents in the community.

There were so many, she took up an offer from Melton’s The Grove Primary School to use their hall to store them and she has already started delivering some of them to local families.

Some of the hundreds of donated toys in the hall at The Grove Primary School Lisa Godber has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125553001Some of the hundreds of donated toys in the hall at The Grove Primary School Lisa Godber has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125553001
Some of the hundreds of donated toys in the hall at The Grove Primary School Lisa Godber has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125553001

Lisa told the Melton Times: “Some of the families I’ve given the toys to have been really emotional.

“One lady who has a little boy was in tears on the doorstep because she hadn’t been able to get him anything.

“It does make it all worthwhile when you see what it means to people to be able to give their children toys this Christmas.”

Lisa, a mother-of-three, is co-ordinating everything via a Facebook page and has been inundated with offers of toys from individuals and businesses and cash donations to buy more with.

Some of the hundreds of donated toys in the hall at The Grove Primary School Lisa Godber has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125542001Some of the hundreds of donated toys in the hall at The Grove Primary School Lisa Godber has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125542001
Some of the hundreds of donated toys in the hall at The Grove Primary School Lisa Godber has collected for struggling local families EMN-201214-125542001

Among the items she has collected so far are XBox and Wii video games consoles, Teddy bears, bicycles, sweets and books, with more coming in every day.

She has had families referred to her through Facebook and has also found others who would benefit through local schools.

“I started it in the middle of October and it has really taken off,” said Lisa.

“I wanted to do something for all the local families who are struggling this year and can’t afford Christmas presents for their children.

“I am so grateful for the support local people and businesses have given me with this.

“It’s something I might continue with after this Christmas.”

Hayley Cheeseman, headteacher at The Grove School, said: “This has been a lovely example of how we are all reaching out to help one another.”

Go to Lisa’s Facebook page called ‘Christmas toy donations for children in Melton Mowbray’ to donate money or toys and find out more about the campaign.

Related topics:MeltonFacebookMorrisons