The Bega District News and Merimbula News Weekly are proud to once again launch our annual Christmas Toy Appeal to bring gifts and smiles to this region's most disadvantaged children.

This will be the sixth year of the incredibly successful campaign that overwhelms us with your generosity each year.

In partnership with the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul Society and the Sapphire Coast Ulysses Motorcycle Club, we will be collecting gifts and toys over the next four weeks under our office Christmas tree.

As in previous years, the presents will then be distributed by Salvos and Vinnies to their clients in time for Christmas, with a suitable selection also being donated to the children's ward at the South East Regional Hospital.

We ask that everyone consider donating new, unwrapped gift ideas for children of all ages who are doing it tougher than most, boys and girls, tots to teens (no secondhand items please).

Leave them under the tree in the BDN office, Shop 10 Sapphire Marketplace in Bega, or at Club Sapphire Merimbula between now and December 16.

"Our Christmas Toy Appeal grows every year thanks to such an incredible and loving community," Australian Community Media editor Ben Smyth said.

"We've passed along tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts to the region's most disadvantaged over the past five years. Just thinking of all the joy that brings to the entire community is so heart-warming.

"This Christmas Toy Appeal just one of the ways we are giving back to this community - our mobile laundry van is well underway also - and we again thank all our supporters and our generous community for all your efforts in helping us bring smiles to so many faces."