Charity expects demand for Christmas present campaign

A Shropshire charity has said it expects demand to be high this year for its campaign which provides Christmas presents to struggling families.Little Stars, which gives away free essentials to families in need, has launched Santa's Little Stars, which runs from Saturday 24 October to Friday 4 December.The public is asked to donate new, unwrapped toys and gifts to donation points in Shrewsbury's Darwin shopping centre.Donations are wrapped and given to children from birth to age 17, as well as pregnant women who are referred to the charity.Little Stars said 2025 was its biggest campaign year to date, and it expected demand to continue to be high due to many families continuing to face financial pressures.The charity launched Santa's Little Stars in 2020 and has given out more than 8,000 presents in that time, supporting more than 2,100 children.It added that donations could be taken to collection points outside the Collective, The Entertainer, Home Bargains and Clarks Shoes.