THE Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal is calling on people across the county to become Secret Santas this Christmas, as the much-loved community initiative returns for its fifth year.
Each Christmas, the appeal helps hundreds of children across Donegal whose families are experiencing financial hardship, ensuring they have something special to look forward to on Christmas morning. Now entering its fifth year, the appeal has become an annual Christmas tradition for many of its volunteers, with Secret Santas returning year after year to choose gifts for children in their own county.
The idea is simple. Volunteers sign up to become a Secret Santa and are anonymously matched with a child supported through family services in Donegal. They receive some information to help them choose a suitable present, including the child’s age and interests, while the identity of the child and family remains completely private. Secret Santas then shop for their child’s gifts, which are brought to designated collection points before being distributed to families in time for Christmas.
The appeal works alongside The Parenting Organisation Donegal, formerly Lifestart Services, which works directly with families throughout the county.
Mary Walker Callaghan of The Parenting Organisation Donegal said: “Christmas should be a time of excitement and wonder for children, but for many parents it can also bring enormous financial pressure. Every year, the generosity shown through the Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal makes a very real difference to families.”
She added that the number of children who were supported through the appeal last year rose to “close to 400”, which she described as an “increase from 300 in previous years”.
“The cost of living is increasing and there are families in the county that simply cannot afford gifts,” said Mary.
“As we enter our fifth year, we are once again asking the people of Donegal to help us make sure that no child is forgotten this Christmas.”
Louise McCormack of the Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal said: “It is hard to believe we are now going into our fifth Christmas. What makes the appeal so special is that it has grown into a real community effort.
“We have Secret Santas who come back every year and have made it part of their own Christmas tradition, alongside people signing up for the very first time.
“There is something lovely about going out and choosing presents specifically for a child, knowing a little about what they like and imagining the excitement when those presents are opened on Christmas morning.
“The families that volunteer to support a child also get so much out of spending time as a family going selecting presents, passing on the Irish value of caring for your community. The Toy Appeal is a very simple way to do something kind for another family in Donegal and to make sure that, whatever difficulties they are going through, their children can still experience some of that part of the fun around Christmas.”
Louise added: “We encourage secret santas to focus on things like educational toys, pyjamas, and items that will benefit the child’s development. As well as receiving the child’s age and gender, we try to give some interests or suitable note for that child to the volunteer if possible from their social worker or worker or member of The Parenting Organisation Donegal that is in contact with that family.”
Organisers are hoping once again for a strong response from individuals, families, groups and workplaces throughout Donegal and close to 400 children are expected to benefit from the appeal this year.
People can sign up individually or volunteer to buy for more than one child, while businesses and organisations are also encouraged to get involved with colleagues as part of their Christmas activities.
The Donegal Christmas Toy Appeal 2026 is now open for Secret Santa sign-ups. Anyone who would like to take part can register here.