Every year, Christmas toy appeals bring happiness and joy to families living in poverty. However, as toys for younger children make up the main bulk of donations, teenagers can sometimes miss out on the Christmas magic…
After noticing a lack of gifts for older kids when volunteering at Burnley Together’s annual gift appeal last year, 20-year-old Jess Holt made it her mission to makeover Christmas for teenage girls.
Since the start of 2024, she’s been busy collecting make-up, beauty bits and other items to make sure they have something to open on Christmas morning too.
The 20-year-old said: “As a teen you remember your Christmas, that’s why I want them to have good memories. Most people think that gift appeals are just for kids and it’s not the case. It’s all about bringing awareness that it’s all ages”.
Last year, over 5000 toys and gifts were donated by the generous people of Burnley and Padiham to Burnley Togethers Christmas Gift Appeal. Over 1200 children from 630 families opened gifts on Christmas – making it Burnley Together’s most successful Christmas toy appeal to date.
Making Christmas ‘special’ for teenagers
Although many of us presume teenagers ask Santa for expensive items like iPhones and electronics, Jess has the idea of make-up kits to make them ‘feel special’. She is hoping to have about 30 full kits by December, each containing a mix of items like beauty blenders, brushes, nail varnishes and beauty products.
As well as make-up kits, Jess is aiming to have nearly 100 other items to donate. This includes ‘big stuff’ like beauty bath sets and tanning products that won’t fit in the kits. There’s also jewellery and Croc charms too.
She explained: “We forget that teens are also children. Just because they are older, we need to remember that they are still kids”.
Originally, Jess was aiming to buy all the presents herself. However, after realising the ‘generosity’ people showed after becoming aware of the issue, she has enlisted the help of friends and family to spread the word on social media.
Thanks to this online support, she’s received donations from plenty of different places, including influencers and local brands. Jess added: “So far, we’ve had £180 donated in money to go and buy more make-up. It’s been amazing to see”.
Help make 2024 the biggest Burnley Together gift appeal yet
Burnley Together’s Gift Appeal will run from 28th October – 29th November. Donations can be dropped off at Down Town on Charter Walk. Gift appeal trollies will also be set up in local supermarkets and schools.
After that, volunteers from Burnley Together – including Jess – will be collecting and organising donations between 2nd – 5th December. Referrals are received from support workers and education settings, before being distributed out to families.
This will be the fifth year that Burnley Together has co-ordinated the toy appeal. Aimed at children and young people up to the age of 16, each child receives a main gift, a second present, two small gifts and a selection box.
Discussing the generosity she’s seen so far, Jess concluded: “I was gobsmacked at how much was donated. I just wanted to do my part and give a little extra. Everyone else who has helped by sharing posts and donating gifts are the ones who have made this possible”.
“It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m helping my local community. I’ll never meet them but it’s a good knowing I’m helping people who live close to me”.
“Down Town do fantastic work and it really influenced me. It’s humbled me and opened my eyes and I’d want anyone to experience it. They want to help and if anyone can help through volunteering, they should give it a shot”.
To find out more about the Burnley Together Gift Appeal and how you can donate, please contact contact@burnleytogether.org.uk or pop into Down Town on Charter Walk.