The Bridge Community Hub are building on the success of last year’s well received Eco Elves campaign, where many members of the community last year said that they would like to take part again.
The Hub’s 3 target areas of the year are Cost of living support, Youth provision and Parental relationships and mental wellbeing.
The aim of the Eco Elves campaign is –
- To supply local families with Christmas gifts for children,
- To promote recycling,
- To raise awareness that preloved gifts are valuable, and that recycled gifting is a positive action,
- To raise finances through voluntary donations for local charity DDC for the food pantry,
- To promote community spirit and a links between schools and the other community members/groups,
- To promote the use of the Food Pantry,
- To raise awareness of Uniform Exchange.
There are three stages to the Eco Elves campaign: The Toy Appeal, Collection and Package, Christmas Celebration.
Toy Appeal
Children and families are being asked to donate good quality toys that they no longer need, play with or have outgrown.
During the campaign, the emphasis will made on the importance of recycling, and that the toys donated, will be re-gifted to another child in our community, spreading happiness and joy, whilst giving the toy a home.
All toys donated must be clean, in full working order with all parts complete!
Toys can be donated through the schools participating or dropped off on the 9th December at the Denby Dale Pie Hall.
Alison Forde, the project coordinator from the Bridge Community Hub, is currently attending schools in the area, talking to the children in assemblies, introducing this year’s project, explaining the importance of it, with the aim of getting the children on board.
Wrap and Pack
On the 11th & 14th December, volunteers will come together to help sort through the donation and pack the gifts ready for the celebration event.
If you would like to help out and give some of your time, please get in touch with Alison at the Bridge Community Hub – Many hands make light work!
Other ways that you can support the ‘wrap and pack’ stage of the campaign is by donating wrapping materials.
However, these need to remain eco focused, so be materials which are or can be reused or recycled. And whilst the presents will be wrapped, the present still needs to visible so it can be chosen appropriately.
For example –
- Christmas present bags (preloved ones would be PERFECT!!!)
- Organza or other type of transparent materials.
- Ribbons – that can be used again, or have been previously used.
Deck the Halls
The celebration event will be held on the 15th December between 12-6pm at the Denby Dale Pie Hall.
This will be a crafting afternoon, where parent/carers and children will come together to make Christmas decorations for the tree (and take home) using recycled materials.
12-2pm most ideal for Pre-school
4-6pm most suited for Primary school age
Families will also be invited to select from the Eco gifts available.
There is no charge for the gifts, however, if you would like to, donations to the The Food Pantry will gratefully be taken. This can either be money, or food to restock the Food Pantry’s shelves – which will be bare in January.
Again, to make this event a success, the Bridge Community Hub are looking for volunteers to help out making the decorations and spreading the joy.
Also in attendance at this celebration event there will be the Uniform Exchange – who are particularly focusing on Winter coats at the moment – please come and take a coat if you need one, or donate coats that you no longer need.
There will also be Healthy Start, who want to raise awareness for their vouchers which families on low incomes can benefit from.
Hopefully the Eco Elves is a campaign that you can get behind and support, reducing waste and positively impacting the environment, teaching us that preloved toys are just as good, and spread Christmas cheer amongst more children in our local area.
If you would like to get involved and support the campaign, or get more information please contact Alison at the Bridge Community Hub, details can be found on their directory listing –