The Make a Child Smile campaign, a special collaboration between Mount Maunganui Lions and Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries, is seeking toy donations once again this December.

This year’s list of families who are financially struggling is the longest yet.

Each year, the Make a Child Smile campaign seeks toy donations which are given out at a special Christmas dinner for local families in need.

Families, identified with the help of Plunket, are invited to attend the dinner and each child is given a toy carefully selected for them.

Now in its 11th year, the campaign has inspired thousands of gift donations from generous locals to those in need throughout our community. Unfortunately, the list of struggling families with children, that the campaign receives each year, is a long one.

“We’ve had some wonderful responses to past campaigns,” says Brenda Anderson of Mount Maunganui Lions, “but this year, we really need the magic to happen”.

This year’s cut off for donations is Monday, December 11, as the community dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12 - so those who’d like to donate a present are asked to get to their local library quick smart. In saying that, Daniel and Brenda feel it’s always important to stress that late donations will never be turned away.

Gift donations can be dropped off to any Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries location from now until Monday, December 11.