Local businesses donated thousands of pounds worth of toiletries, household essentials and selection boxes for the 2016 Smile Christmas Appeal.

Smile works with numerous charities and community groups that need extra support over the festive season to help make Christmas a special time for their beneficiaries.

Presents under the Donnington Court Christmas tree

The entire Smile team was overwhelmed by the number of donations received from business partners and kind-hearted individuals.

Smile was able to gift over 700 selection boxes, and hundreds of items, to CASE Training; Nurture a Child; Health Stars; Special Smiles; Purple House; Donnington Court; Endike Community Care and Cornerhouse Care Project.

Selection boxes at CASE

Charlene Kent, Cornerhouse Care Project Coordinator, who works with young people in Hull who are at risk of sexual exploitation explained: “We are extremely grateful to the Smile Foundation and the businesses and individuals in our local area for their very generous donations.

“Christmas is often a lonely time for our young people and we can’t tell you how much your donations helped. We packaged them up into hampers and brought some much needed Christmas magic into their lives.”

A small selection of toiletries received

Items were used to put together Christmas presents for individuals and some were kept as vital supplies needed every day.

Denise Masike, Local Service Manager at Sanctuary Supported Living, Donnington Court said: “I want to say a huge thank you for the wonderful gifts and donations that our homeless families received. It is heart-warming to see the thoughtful and kind generosity of the people who donated.”

The Smile Christmas Appeal finished off a productive year for Smile and the whole team is looking forward to an exciting 2017 year ahead as Hull officially becomes UK City of Culture 2017.

A selection of gifts for babies