Members have recently donated a truck load of toys to the Salvation Army Christmas Toy Appeal as well as a $500 donation.

Manager of the Salvation Army Community Services Centre in Newcastle captain Howard Mole accepted the donation at the centre.

“They have a big lot of toys, I come up in a courier van each year and fill it up,” captain Mole said.

Captain Mole commented on the quality of the toys donated by the centre saying they were mostly brand new and some of them were things that were made by the members of the centre, making them that extra bit special.

“Only because of the support of groups like this do we have something to give out to the children,” captain Mole said.

“We help out the Salvation Army because it is such a worth while charity,” Myall Art and Craft Centre president Norma Heggie said.

The centre has been a part of the Christmas Toy Appeal for a number of years.

A large Christmas tree is set up in the centre shop and the gifts are placed underneath.

One member at the Myall Art and Craft centre collects toys all year round for the appeal.

Marilyn Stanley gathers items at op-shops and fixes them up before adding other items to the toy until a gift for under the tree emerges.

The Myall Art and Craft Centre is the furthest place to the north that the toys are collected from by the Salvation Army in Newcastle.

Toys are distributed based on need to families in Newcastle, the Hunter and Port Stephens with children up 11 years and under receiving wrapped toys and children aged 12 to 15 receiving a gift voucher.

The Salvation Army also try to make sure there is a present under the tree for single mothers and fathers.

For the first time this year the centre was in a financial position to also donate $500 to St Vincent DePaul with funds to be used in the local area.

“The centre is community based and we can help out local charities,” Norma said.