Yesterday saw the culmination of the Christmas Gift Appeal, a joint initiative between TKO Radio, Willow International School and the Costa Blanca People. The campaign appealed to local residents to buy an extra Christmas present and donate it to a child in need at this special time of year.
TKO presenter Stevie Spit and the station’s Social Media Assistant Melissa Williams joined forces with Amanda Riding, Director of Willow International School, the School’s Spanish Teacher Noemi Pastor and some of their pupils to hand over more than 80 presents and 750 euros to the San Jose Obrero centre.
The orphanage is home to around 60 children from the age of 5 to 18 housed in two residencies in Orihuela and Elche. There are also 24 children who are cared for at a day centre, and go home in the evening, as well as a temporary foster care facility. However, the church-run home receives no official support or funding.
Amanda Riding said: “We delivered around 80 gifts which is brilliant – we wanted no child to be without a gift this Christmas and our students’ families and all the listeners of TKO, and clients of our other drop off points have been really generous.
“It was very emotional visiting the centre and delivering the gifts and it’s an experience I was delighted to be able to share with some of our students because I think it is something they will remember having been involved in.”
A huge thank you to everyone who supported the campaign and helped to make a child smile this Christmas.
