The Advertiser's annual Christmas Toy Appeal received a last minute bumper bonus courtesy of Starbucks Hamilton.
For the OCO.eu group who run the two franchises in the town, at Hamilton Palace Grounds and Hamilton Retail Park, have donated a whopping £5000 to help make Christmas extra special for the county's underprivileged children.
Staff at Starbucks have long since supported the appeal - setting up donation stations and providing gift cards for the teenagers over the last few years - but this year they have gone above and beyond for South Lanarkshire's neediest families with such a mammoth donation.
The money will now be used to purchase gift cards and extra presents for the hundreds of teenagers and youngsters under the care of South Lanarkshire Council's social work services, as well as the dozens of outside referals we also receive for those in need.
It will also mean an early start on the 2022 Toy Appeal with plans afoot to purchase some amazing presents for the children for next Christmas.
Leona Greenan, Advertiser Toy Appeal coordinator, said: "There were tears all round on Friday when we received the call from the Starbucks team pledging a huge £5000 donation.
"Everyone at the Advertiser and our Toy Appeal partners at the Salvation Army was overjoyed and completely overwhelmed.
"A massive thank you to everyone at OCO.eu for such a wonderful gesture.
"We have plans for some last minute shopping for the kids and some early Christmas shopping for next year too, ensuring the Appeal is yet again a huge success and every child receives a magical Christmas."
Advertiser editor Robert Mitchell added: "We are completely overwhelmed and thankful for the donation from Starbucks.
"What a wonderful thing to do for those in need within the local community.
"Thank you OCO.eu and we wish you all a very Merry Christmas."
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