Millions of children in the country have the novelty of making a Christmas wish list but for sick children and poor families this is not an option.
This festive season, to help put a smile on a deprived or poorly child's face charities and organisations across west London are collecting for the Christmas Toy Appeal.
But hurry time is running out to donate unwanted toys to those in need.
WEST LONDON
West London police are reminding people to take part in the Met's Christmas tree gift appeal to ensure children in care are not forgotten during the festive season.
With the deadline for donations next week, officers in Hounslow, Ealing , Hillingdon, and Kensington & Chelsea, are urging members of the public to help their 'Give a Gift' Christmas tree appeal by buying gifts for youngsters aged three to 17, in care homes or with foster parents.
The tree came to Kensington & Chelsea on Monday (Dec 1), and have already been placed outside police stations in the other boroughs.
PC Rebecca Robinson who is coordinating this year's campaign said: "This campaign highlights the good work and humility that the Met shows throughout the year.
"In the past this campaign has been very successful and we have helped bring presents to a lot of deserving children.
"We hope by bringing this project to every borough in London we can reach out to more young people and spread the spirit of Christmas."
All people have to do is pick up a tagged ribbon from a tree, located outside the main police station in each borough, and follow the instructions, or visit the online virtual Christmas tree.
So join the campaign and donate a present or voucher of no more than £20 and take it to your local police station.
Hounslow borough commander Carl Bussey said: "Please help us by supporting this worthy campaign to spread some Christmas cheer to children in care across the borough."
Temporary chief superintendent Paul Martin at Ealing, added: "We would welcome the generosity of the public in supporting our Christmas Tree appeal. It is a worthy campaign, spreading a little Christmas cheer to those that may need a little more love than most especially during the festive season."
The campaign runs until Sunday, December 14.
All the gifts will be delivered to the children at their care homes before Christmas day.
HOUNSLOW
Volunteers at the Riverside Vineyard Church in Feltham will be handing out toys to families in need of a present to give their children at Christmas.
The Children's Storehouse project, which gives free food and clothes to families struggling to make ends meet all year round, has been collecting gifts and toys for several months from people in the community, and will hold its annual Christmas Toy event, tomorrow (Dec 4).
Hundreds of people are expected to pick up a present from the church on Browell's Lane spreading Christmas cheer, during what is a difficult time for many people in the borough.
The event will be held on Thursday, December 4, from 9am to 1pm.
KENSINGTON & CHELSEA
There is still time to donate brand new boxed toys to The Brompton Fountain charity's annual appeal.
Every year the hospital, which provides care and support for children with life threatening medical conditions, collects as many gifts as possible to give to the children's ward for those spending Christmas in hospital.
Presents can range from dolls, teddy bears and action figures, to board games and books, to give to all ages from newborn babies to 16-year-old teens.
People can drop-off gifts and toys to the senior play specialist at the Rose Ward and paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Royal Brompton Hospital between until December 20.
This is also the date of the annual Brompton Fountain Christmas party for children and their families.
All toys donated must be new and boxed to protect patients from infections that could be spread from receiving old or used ones.
Visit www.bromptonfountain.org.uk.
HARROW
A final appeal for gifts is being made by the Harrow Observer which has teamed up with Northwick Park Hospital and Harrow Council once again to bring a smile to the faces of unwell children this Christmas.
The countdown is on, so buy a gift today, and drop off the newly-bought gifts to any one of the Harrow libraries, by this Friday (Dec 5).
Every year readers have joined the Toy Appeal campaign and donated gifts to youngsters in the paediatric ward at the hospital, in Watford Road, Harrow.
The presents will be delivered by the Observer and and a special celebrity guest, in time for Christmas.
