A Record Breaking Year For Operation Santa Appeal

The generosity of residents, schools, businesses and community organisations has helped ensure children and young people from across Caerphilly county borough enjoy some festive cheer this Christmas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s annual Operation Santa appeal has proven to be a record breaker this year – with more than 3,000 gifts donated for over 650 children and young people. Children receiving gifts from the appeal were nominated by their social workers, and are not supported by any other appeal. Operation Santa was also able to support Llamau, Gofal, Homestart, Action for Children and Ty Fesen this year thanks to the generosity of so many. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Like a well-oiled machine, volunteers turned out in large numbers recently to help with the huge task of sorting the gifts and bagging them up in preparation for delivery to the children in time for Christmas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

An addition, young adults who have recently left the care system and will be living independently this Christmas for the first time will receive a hamper containing food items and a few treats to enjoy over the festive period. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member Cllr Robin Woodyatt said, “Every year we’re blown away by the generosity of our residents, businesses, schools, community organisations and others in supporting this very important appeal. I would like to extend a most sincere thanks on behalf of all at Caerphilly County Borough Council to everyone who pledged a gift or made a donation, helping to make the 2016 Operation Santa appeal the biggest and best one yet”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as fantastic donations from residents, special thanks must go to a number of businesses, schools and community organisations for their support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

St Cenydd School, Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Caerphilly-based business Dust and Things and Caerphilly Homes’ various contractors worked tirelessly to put together impressive hampers for young adults who’ve recently left care to enjoy. Peter’s Food also generously donated items for inclusion in the festive hampers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Members, Plasyfelin Primary School, Boys of the Brad, ACT Training and Caerffili Lions made very generous donations to the Operation Santa appeal, and businesses including General Dynamics, Creditsafe, DS Smith, Ecolab and Morrisons Bargoed pledged hundreds of gifts to local children. Pupils and parents from Cwrt Rawlin Primary School also pledged numerous items to the popular appeal. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A special thank you to everyone who supported Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Operation Santa appeal 2016! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​