We asked News readers to donate any unwanted toys or to buy new ones for children to play with at the Connors Toy Library in Portsmouth and the Rainbow Centre in Fareham, which helps children with cerebral palsy.
We knew readers were kind-hearted - but the reaction we got took us all by surprise.
Bikes, plastic trucks, board games and bags and boxes full of toys were dropped into our offices in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant.
Our store room at The News Centre was filled to the brim, and it took staff, parents and children from the charity three hours to sort through and take all the toys with them.
Julie Woodward, fundraising manager at the Rainbow Centre, said: 'It was quite a shock to see how many toys had been donated. Toys are crucial to help the children at the centre with their balance, movement and develop other skills.
'We're thrilled and quite taken aback at how generous people are. We want to say a big thank you to News readers.'
Karen Drayton, toy library adviser at Connors Toy Library which has 29 play groups across the city, said: 'It's been an amazing response. Many families are facing tough times financially, which makes these donations particularly valuable.'
Parents are also thrilled with the campaign's results.
Rachel McPhail< COR> is a toy library volunteer and her three children Aidan, five, Merlin, three, and Kieran, 19-months, all love the toys at Connors.
She said: 'The toys are really important. We have 20 families at the toy library in Fratton, so you can imagine with that many children how much wear and tear the toys get.
'Some families are really disadvantaged. Without the toys from the toy library, their children wouldn't have hardly any.'
Kay Gudgeon's daughter Lucy, eight, has global developmental delay, and goes to the Rainbow Centre twice a week.
The 43-year-old of Winterhill Road, Cosham, said: 'Toys are very much part of Lucy's life. She likes musical toys and tactile toys like dolls which are made of different materials. They're very stimulating.
'New toys are very important because after a while she gets fed up with the same toys.'
Tracey Gordon's son, Ollie Kinchington, five, has cerebral palsy and also uses the Rainbow Centre.
The 35-year-old of South Road, Drayton, said: 'Toys are very important. They're educational, and help Ollie to learn and develop his skills. So any new toys will really help.'
Needy children will have a very merry Christmas thanks to generous readers who donated to our toys appeal.
We asked readers of The News to donate any unwanted toys or to buy new ones for children to play with at the Connors Toy Library in Portsmouth and the Rainbow Centre in Fareham, which helps children with cerebral palsy.
We knew readers were kind-hearted - but the reaction we got took us all by surprise.
Bikes, plastic trucks, board games and bags and boxes full of toys were dropped into our offices in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant.
Our store room at The News Centre was filled to the brim, and it took staff, parents and children from the charity three hours to sort through and take all the toys with them.
Julie Woodward, fundraising manager at the Rainbow Centre, said: 'It was quite a shock to see how many toys had been donated. Toys are crucial to help the children at the centre with their balance, movement and develop other skills.
'We're thrilled and quite taken aback at how generous people are. We want to say a big thank-you to News readers.'
Karen Drayton, toy library adviser at Connors Toy Library, which has 29 play groups across the city, said: 'It's been an amazing response. Many families are facing tough times financially, which makes these donations particularly valuable.'
Parents are also thrilled with the campaign's results.
Rachel McPhail is a toy library volunteer and her three children, Aidan, five, Merlin, three, and Kieran, 19 months, all love the toys at Connors.
She said: 'The toys are really important. We have 20 families at the toy library in Fratton, so you can imagine with that many children how much wear and tear the toys get.
'Some families are really disadvantaged. Without the toys from the toy library, their children would have hardly any.'
Kay Gudgeon's daughter Lucy, eight, has global developmental delay and goes to the Rainbow Centre twice a week.
The 43-year-old, of Winterhill Road, Cosham, said: 'Toys are very much part of Lucy's life. She likes musical toys and tactile toys like dolls which are made of different materials. They're very stimulating.
'New toys are very important because after a while she gets fed up with the same toys.'
Tracey Gordon's son, Ollie Kinchington, five, has cerebral palsy and also uses The Rainbow Centre.
The 35-year-old, of South Road, Drayton, said: 'Toys are very important. They're educational and help Ollie to learn and develop his skills. So any new toys will really help.'
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