A CHARITY is spreading festive spirit by giving out thousands of presents to help families who “can’t afford” Christmas.

Surrey-based charity Santa Stork has been helping to provide 7,500 toys and gifts for children and their parents across the county.

Families can choose from a catalogue of 76 gifts and also get a stocking filler with wrapping paper, sticky tape and gift tags.

Charity manager Donna Pariser said: “We don’t want anyone to go without on Christmas Day.

“Referral partners involve the families throughout the process and it’s all about choice … it’s always nice to get a gift but even nicer if it’s one you really want.”

The charity, mainly run by volunteers, works in a similar way to food banks to provide essentials for families with children under the age of 16.

After the start of the pandemic in March 2020, Ms Pariser said referrals increased “almost overnight.”

Many of the families had never relied on a charity before but found it hard to cope due to the loss of income caused by lockdowns.

Ms Pariser said this year’s Christmas would be a “luxury some families just can’t afford.”

She said: “Christmas is a joyful time that we all look forward to but this is not the case for the families that we’re helping… many of them pretend it’s not happening.”

The charity will even include a present for the parent or carers and the key worker who referred the family.