More than 100 children's wishes to come true thanks to community support for Waterlooville couple's Christmas present appeal

Community kindness has left Sophie and Dan Baker feeling ‘overwhelmed’ after they set up a festive appeal which led to more than 500 Amazon parcels arriving at their house.

In November, 28-year-old Sophie came up with the idea of setting up ‘PO Box Christmas Present Donation’ on Facebook, for people in the PO postcode area to swap and donate items to help others give presents to their families.

In a matter of weeks, nearly 2,000 people were involved and Sophie began to receive messages from families who were really struggling but didn’t want to publicly be named.

Sophie, who is a photographer and has struggled through lack of work during the pandemic, said: ‘I decided I would do an appeal - I contacted the families asking for more information about their children.

‘Gender, ages, interests, what they have specifically wished for and made it my mission to make sure that these wishes came true.’

People were asked to come forward so Sophie could co-ordinate an Amazon wishlist filled with presents the children were dreaming about opening this Christmas.

‘Everyone’s lost a bit of hope because everything’s been really unpredictable,’ mum-of-two Sophie told The News.

‘A lot of them have been affected by redundancy and hours cut. They have been the ones to help others in the past and now they don’t even have the money to buy their kids a pair of pyjamas.

‘I think every child deserves to have a wish come true this Christmas.’

SEE ALSO: Charity team takes on 15-mile walk around Portsea island as part of Waitrose and John Lewis festive Give a Little Love campaign

The community jumped straight into action, with more than 500 Amazon parcels being delivered, money sent over for food parcels, dentists donating toothbrushes and people arriving with all kinds of amazing gifts.

Jade Tisson, from Portsmouth, bought tickets for a family trip to the Sea Life Centre in Southsea to fulfil someone’s Christmas wish.

Jade, who has been friends with Sophie for 10 years, said: ‘The response has been incredible, and just reading through the posts, to see the sheer joy from people knowing they can help, and the families receiving knowing they can give their children and loved ones their Christmas wishes. I’ve certainly shed a lot of happy tears!

‘Just to be a part of it has made me feel grateful to be in a position to help. Through the challenging year I feel lucky to have made it through and given my family gifts this year, so I felt truly blessed to also help another family and fulfil a wish.’

More than 40 families - including 107 children - will now have a lovely boost on Christmas Eve when Sophie, Dan and their trusty elves will deliver a sack of goods.

READ NEXT: Vouchers from community will be the 'rainbow' for homeless people this Christmas

Each child has three or four gifts, pyjamas, basics like pants and gloves, with some families also receiving new school shoes, pre-loved clothes in the relevant sizes, a gift for the parents and a food hamper to see them through the holidays.

Dan, 30, said: ‘We’re both overwhelmed with the camaraderie and support. Not just our family and friends and all the people we know, but the generosity of people coming together in a time of need to support everyone is wonderful.’

Sophie, who can’t use her dining table or open her fridge due to sacks of presents, added: ‘It just breaks my heart to think if we weren’t doing this, those children wouldn’t have anything to open.

‘I never in a million years thought I would help this many people, I’m just so proud.

‘Asking for help is just as important as giving it. I think it takes a really strong and brave person to say they’re having a tough time.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.

Our trial offer starts at just £2 a month for the first two months.