A Derry gym is calling for local people to donate to their Christmas toy appeal this year. The appeal is running until December 17.
Emerge Fitness, based in Derry's Springtown Industrial Estate, has been running a Christmas toy appeal since 2019. Since its establishment, the team have seen the need for such local appeals grow.
After a difficult year last year and coming into a tough winter ahead, there is a heightened need for people to dig deep to ensure no child gets left behind.
Emmet Deeney of Emerge Fitness spoke to MyDerry about this toy appeal and its importance to local families.
He said: "It started because a lot of our members work in the community and spoke to us about how short they were on presents for children that had nothing.
"It is so important this year because a lot of families have been affected by COVID-19 and being out of work for so long during lockdowns. The effects of the pandemic have reached everyone, everyone has been struggling in some way."
Emmet spoke about the impact that toy appeals such as these have on families that are struggling and do not want their children to miss out.
He said: "The toy appeal has helped hundreds of families over the last couple of years. Last year we had a local family call in that had lost their home to a fire.
"It was very emotional for us to see how happy the children were picking out toys and how relieved the mother and father were to receive food and heating vouchers.
"We are now friends with them on social media and it is great to see them all do so well now."
Of course, the toy appeal at Emerge Fitness would not be a success without local support. Emmet has commended the people of Derry for their continued generosity.
He said: "The support of our members and the local community has been nothing short of incredible, none of this would be possible without them.
"Everyone knows we are more than a gym, we are a family so we all pull together to help as many people as possible.
"We want to thank everyone that has donated so far. We also want to remind everyone that we are still taking donations right up until December 17.
"It does not matter how big or small it is, every donation will help a local family."
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