Foodbank and crisis charity Homeless in Teignbridge Support (HITS) received a huge boost to its annual Christmas toy collection when generous shoppers at Sainsbury’s, Newton Abbot, responded to the store’s appeal for donations of children’s gifts.

To the delight of staff and charity workers alike, dozens of new toys ranging from teddy bears to board games flooded in to the Sainsbury’s collection point.

Along with other donated toys, HITS volunteers will check, wrap and label the yuletide bounty, and with a careful referral procedure in place, toys are redistributed to the most needy cases and the charity are able to transform the Christmases of many deserving children whose stockings would otherwise be empty this year.

HITS coordinator Bob Newton said: ‘The fantastic support of Sainsbury’s and the amazing generosity of the public has been quite outstanding.

‘The Christmas toys, hampers and warm clothes for kids that we distribute at Christmas make a huge difference to the lives of struggling families and I urge anyone with surplus new toys or unwanted warm clothes to please drop them off at or take them to HITS’ Foodbank in Bradley Lane, Newton Abbot.’