kmfm launches toy appeal for children in hospital this Christmas
KMTV's sister station kmfm is asking Kent residents to donate unwanted toys all to be given to children in hospital this Christmas.
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00:00 KMFM's Give A Gift with the Bargain Hunter UK app.
00:04 A massive thank you from all of us at KMFM for your support for our Give A Gift appeal.
00:09 All your epic donations meant we could make such an impact to children in hospitals and
00:14 care across Kent.
00:15 So Rob, Give A Gift, what's it all about?
00:17 Give A Gift, what is it all about?
00:19 So last year we did it for the first time.
00:22 It's kind of evolved over the years where we did a shed load of toys, but ultimately
00:27 what it is, is we're trying to deliver as many toys as possible to kids in hospital
00:32 care or in at least less fortunate circumstances, but right here in Kent and Medway.
00:37 And you did that last year of course, as you said, what was the sort of response you got
00:42 from people not only donating the gifts but from those receiving it?
00:45 What did it mean to them?
00:46 Well let's start with the donation.
00:47 I would be lying if I said I wasn't super nervous because if you think back to this
00:52 time last year, it's where the fuel prices were going crazy, petrol was really expensive,
00:56 the food was going out of control as well and it's not much better now but it is slightly
01:00 better.
01:01 We were kind of going into it going, we're asking people to dig deep and that could go
01:08 wrong because it's not the right time.
01:12 So when we finished the campaign and we're having to ask the boss for more rooms to put
01:18 toys in because we filled them, we did 10,500 toys, it was quite, it was something special
01:24 you know.
01:25 Was it a good problem to have?
01:26 It was a good problem to have.
01:27 And what did it mean to people?
01:28 The thing is that it's the one bit that you don't see on the cameras because we can't
01:33 show you obviously many of the kids that are receiving the presents but these are kids
01:38 that are going to be in hospital the day that me and you are tucking into a turkey dinner
01:43 right?
01:44 These are the kids that are not going to wake up and see presents under a tree.
01:47 These are kids that might not even be waking up on Christmas Day with their own families.
01:52 So the way we've been talking about it on air is it's just that little bit of a smile.
01:57 It's just that five minute escapism.
01:58 It's that little bit of light relief that they wouldn't necessarily have otherwise.
02:03 So the difference it made last year was incredible and it's just the one bit that I wish we could
02:08 visually share but we can't.
02:11 As you say, you've set the bar so high and it means so much for those children.
02:14 Is it something you're going to keep doing?
02:16 Is this an annual thing?
02:17 Is it going to get bigger and better?
02:18 I hope so.
02:19 I mean listen, we'll find out if it's going to be bigger and better.
02:20 This is the thing with this stuff is that we're in this room now, we can't see, and
02:26 we spoke about this on Tons of Tins right?
02:28 We can't see anybody.
02:30 So it's not like you're walking out onto stage and you're pitching to 200,000 people, could
02:36 you all bring a toy and then you see them all holding it.
02:38 You don't get that.
02:40 So we'll have to see.
02:41 We'll do our very best.
02:42 We'll not only work with our audiences but also with some of our customers as well to
02:47 see if there's anything that they can bring to the party.
02:51 But I'm confident.
02:53 Ask me in a few more weeks.
02:55 It's day one and we'll see how it goes.