Car rally drives it home for Christmas with Stockton Toy Appeal

A convoy of cars drove it home for Christmas this year with a rally that collected hundreds of presents for Stockton Salvation Army’s Toy Appeal. 

Classic and Retro Events brought together car enthusiasts who collected presents from pubs across Stockton and Billingham that had been donated by generous members of the public for the appeal, which collects new gifts for children whose families are already making impossible choices between food, heating, and bills. 

Around 25 vehicles met at Owington Farm Pub in Billingham and made their way through Stockton, finishing at the hall in Palmerston Street where they unloaded the gifts. 

With referrals at an all time high, Stockton Salvation Army has been overwhelmed with the support for the appeal this year after the community rallied round when presents ran low and it looked like they wouldn’t be able to meet the need. 

Major Sandy Davis, who leads Stockton Salvation Army with Major Ian, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us with the appeal this year. Referrals were at a high with more people finding themselves in the heartbreaking position of not being able to stretch their budgets to cover gifts for their children. 

“The response from the community has been overwhelming. Yet again Classic and Retro Cars car rally had a huge impact filling the hall to the brim with gifts that had been donated from the generous Stockton public. 

“Need has been so high this year that we ran out of gifts and selection boxes with 300 parcels to complete. I put a call out on Facebook and the response was amazing. 

“We had a little girl who had bought 40 selection boxes with her own Christmas money, a school offered 150 boxes and other families who donated and stayed on to help us sort and pack the toys. It was an incredible response. 

“Thank you to everyone who has made it possible to meet the need and ensure that children across our region will wake up on Christmas morning with smiles on their faces. God and the generous people of Stockton have delivered!” 

Laura and Andrew Rasmussen, who helped organise the classic car rally for the third year in a row, said on behalf of Classic and Retro Events, that each pub and their customers gave generously. 

Laura said: “What a haul, what an achievement! The pubs, the customers, the car owners, they smashed it out the park. We are always blown away by their generosity and the response we get from people who take part in this toy drive. 

“Thank you to Owington Farm, Synthonia, Smiths at Carlton, Mecca Bingo Stockton, Oddfellows, Falcon at Hilton, The Unicorn Norton, The Portrack, The Dolphin, Rebels Stockton, Cattle Market, Dr McGonigles and the Hoptimist, to MediNorth for First Aid support without cost. Thanks to Mandeville Properties for their ford transit and to all the escort vehicles that did a sterling job as well. Special thank you goes to the Cleveland Police Matrix Officer who helped with traffic control and showed his support.” 

The Salvation Army will sort and distribute the gifts to children and families in the area through local groups, schools and social services.

Stockton Salvation Army is supporting in other ways this Christmas including hosting a festive meal for up to 80 people who attend their weekly community meal. 

For more information on Classic and Retro Events search for them on Facebook.