Liverpool bar launches Christmas toy appeal so children don’t have to go without

A Liverpool bar and aparthotel has launched a Christmas Toy Appeal so children don’t have to go without presents on Christmas Day.

Harrison’s Bar & Kitchen, on the corner of Victoria Street and North John Street, is collecting new toys in the run-up to the big day and every donation is being matched by the business.

The appeal is running over the next few weeks and all the toys that come in will be given to four different charities: Derry Mathews Toy Drive, the Kirkby Toy Appeal, Southdene Community Centre and L30 Community Centre.

It’s Harrison’s latest effort to support community groups – last Christmas the team helped to collect and donate selection boxes to the Kirkdale ABC gym, and at Easter it organised a collection of Easter eggs to go the L6 and L30 community centres.

During lockdown, the bar also donated funds for the foodbank to a secondary school in the Everton area, and it sponsors five youth football teams in the city.

Nicola Leppert at Harrison’s explains:

“After the selection box collection last Christmas was so popular, this year we decided to do a toy appeal.

“We like to think of Harrison’s Bar and Kitchen as a community pub in the heart of the city. The directors are parents themselves and they felt that no child should go without a toy a Christmas. The thought that a child wakes up on Christmas morning thinking that they have been missed out by Santa is just heartbreaking. 

“Fortunately, we are in a position to help but understand that with the cost-of-living crisis, even more people will be struggling this year. Our generous customers have been passing in toys, or have donated money for us to purchase the toys on their behalf. 

“When we were speaking to one of the community centres, they told us that they have received a significantly lower amount of toy donations this year which is why we wanted to do everything we could to help.”

Harrison’s chose this year’s four groups because of its owners’ personal links – two of them grew up in Kirkby and one plays for the REMYCA Football Team, who also donate to the L30 centre which is close by. 

They were keen to support boxer Derry who is hosting a free children’s party for kids in Liverpool this year through his Academy. The party on December 17 for around 300 kids will include a panto, Christmas choir, Christmas characters, Santa’s grotto, games, food and a selection box and present for every child.

Anyone who’s in town and wants to donate a toy or make a cash donation to buy one can drop it into the bar during regular opening times, from 10am till 11pm on Sunday to Thursday and 10am till 1am on Friday and Saturday – or just inbox Harrison’s on social media for how to make a donation online.