Members of the Warwickshire’s County Championship-winning squad have delivered thousands of Christmas presents to charities and community centres which are supporting some of Birmingham’s most vulnerable children as part of the Toys4Birmingham campaign.
Devised by the Edgbaston Foundation, Thrive Together Birmingham and Birmingham PlayCare Network, the Toys4Birmingham campaign saw more than 14,000 Christmas presents donated over three weeks at a collection centre at Warwickshire’s home of Edgbaston Stadium.
Warwickshire players, including men’s captain Will Rhodes, new signing Alex Davies and spinner Jake Lintott spread themselves across 6 different charities and community centres in Birmingham to deliver toys, which will subsequently be wrapped and given to local children on Christmas day.
Speaking at the visit to Oasis Academy Boulton in Handsworth, Warwickshire Captain Will Rhodes said: “It’s incredibly humbling to be here today and to learn about the fantastic work that is being done to support local children in the city.
“We got involved in the project last year and it’s great to join forces with our Members, supporters and the local community by donating and, hopefully, giving a better Christmas to the children that Toys4Birmingham is supporting.”
Will Rhodes
Despite the donation of toys to the local causes, there’s still an opportunity to support Toys4Birmingham by making a financial donation online. Simply click here and enter the appropriate detail.
Ravi Masih, Head of Community Engagement at Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Lead of the Edgbaston Foundation: “It’s rewarding to know that we can make a difference and help any family or child who is experience hardship. Whilst making a donation may seem like a small thing to do, to know that we are helping create a better Christmas for local people has come naturally to everyone that’s part of the Bears family
“It’s been an incredibly busy few weeks at Edgbaston, but we’re very grateful to the thousands of people who have donated in-person and online. We had no idea what to expect when we launched Toys4Birmingham last Christmas, but we’ve now been able to donate almost 30,000 toys and if the need is still there l we will develop plans in the New Year to bring it back for Christmas 2023.”
