Bus drivers join drive to ensure no child in our region wakes up without a present this Christmas
Last updated 17th Dec 2025
Communities across the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland are coming together to support our campaign to ensure no child in our region wakes up without a present on Christmas Day.
At Mission Christmas headquarters in Newtown St Boswells, gifts have already been wrapped for more than 1,100 youngsters.
However, with more than 300 applications still to fulfil, today (Wednesday, December 17th) is the last day presents can be donated at drop-off points.
Carly Mackenzie, from our charity Cash for Kids, admitted this year has been "tough", but she praised locals for rallying round.
"We are at over 1,400 applications," she explained. "Last year we were just over 1,200 applications, so we are 200 or more up this year than we have been in previous years.
"(Referrals) came in from health professionals, teachers etc straight away - as soon as they were open. But the actual gifts and donations coming in was a lot slower. I think just everyone is feeling the pinch at the moment."
But she added: "The actual generosity and the gifts that come in are unbelievable.
"And the feedback that we always get is really heart warming - (we) always get really lovely emails and cards to say 'thank you' and it's 'changed their lives', and made Christmas magical for these kids."
Since this year's campaign was launched in November, a number of local businesses and volunteers have given up their time to help package the presents at the charity's new base at Tweed Horizons.
Among them is Dougie Turnbull, a continuous improvement manager at Plexus. He said: "It's good to give something back to the community, and the company encourages it.
"It opens your eyes when you think about who's getting the presents, it makes you more aware of what's going on in the world. And it's rewarding to be able to do something (about it)."
Delivering presents in his van was Christopher Martin, who works for MKM Building Supplies in Berwick. He said: "We come each Tuesday to drop stuff off. We go round local businesses in Berwick - like Tesco, Simpson's Malt, and B&Ms; we pick all the things up, gather them together and come here." And he added: "I'm on holiday next week so everything's great!"
He's not the only driver getting involved.
Eight bus drivers at Scottish Borders Council have been donning Santa suits on shift to raise money for this year's appeal. For more information on how to help follow the link below...
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/