WITHOUT the assistance of all the groups involved, our Christmas Toy Drive would never have come together.

Our sincere thanks go out to the Bega Rotary Club as well as the Lions for their efforts in taking the message to local businesses and collecting donations this week.

Also a huge thank you to the Ulysses Sapphire Coast branch for partnering its toy run with ours, adding the considerable haul of donations to the pile after last weekend’s motorcycle ride from Bermagui to Bega.

Ulysses should also be acknowledged for their money-collecting efforts – with $665 each going to Bega Vinnies and the Bega Hospital Auxiliary!

Now the collection has finished, it is up to the wonderful volunteers at Vinnies, the Salvation Army and Anglicare to distribute the presents to those in need in our community, and we thank them very much for their input.

The biggest thanks though are for our readers and the wider community.

We could never have imagined the volume of toys that flooded into the BDN offices this month thanks to your incredible generosity.

I am constantly floored by stories of hardship in the Valley that are always met with support and donations, despite the tough financial times many of us are experiencing.

There is much to be said of a community that stands together and I sincerely thank each and every one of you for being part of our inaugural toy drive.

Merry Christmas to everyone from the whole team at Bega District News!