Mrs Claus Appeal: Irvine restaurant is accepting donations to 2022 effort

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A big-hearted Kilwinning woman, known as Mrs Claus, is recruiting thoughtful Christmas elves to help needy families this festive period.Full-time foster mum, Louise Cast, has been feeding 100 households Christmas dinner and gifting toys to kids in the Three Towns for nine years.

With Christmas around the corner The Mrs Claus Appeal, with the help of Niche restaurant in Irvine, is looking for your help to make this year as jolly as possible for those worried families feeling the weight of this year's cost-of-living crisis.Mum of four, Louise, said: "I worked with social services for North Ayrshire Council for nine years and every year I raised money to organise Christmas dinner for 100 families and give out toys to kids in need across the Three Towns. "The thought of families sitting with nothing at Christmas is heartbreaking.

I know times are tough for everyone right now, but if you could donate to the appeal it will mean a child in the area will have something to open up from Santa on Christmas morning. "Before I became a full-time foster mum I would do respite care and one year I was caring for a seven-year-old who asked me what a Christmas tree was; they didn't know. "I remember visiting a child, during my time with social services, and all they had to open on Christmas day from Santa was a new pair of school shoes. "It's heartbreaking."It really makes you appreciate how lucky we are when you realise just how many kids in the Three Towns go without on Christmas morning.

If people could reflect a wee bit on the run-up to Christmas and think about those kids who get nothing."Irvine restaurant Niche, based in Irvine Harbourside, is accepting thoughtful donations to the Mrs Claus Appeal and Morrisons in Stevenston is