ONCE again the Gazette and Herald has joined forces with the Salvation Army to make Christmas a bit more cheery for needy families in Wiltshire.

Last year hundreds of toys were given to the appeal and were then passed on by the Salvation Army to parents so they could give them to their youngsters on Christmas morning.

This year we hope even more toys will collected.

It has been made easier by Superdrug joining the cause.

People can drop presents off at stores in Chippenham and Devizes or bring them in to Gazette offices in the same towns.

This appeal is an easy way for people to make a real difference this Christmas.

Most of our children receive a huge number of gifts from parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and godparents.

But some children, even in an affluent county such as Wiltshire, could face Christmas day with very little unless their parents receive some help.

The wonderful thing about the Salvation Army Pass A Parcel appeal is that the parents are given the presents so they can wrap them and give them to their children themselves so they are not made to feel any different from ordinary families.

Salvation Army captain Mary Wolfe was delighted with the response to the appeal last year and is sure even more people will want to give this time around.

She always receives many poignant letters from single mums and other people to whom money is very tight, forcing them choose between food and gifts.

So let all of us think about others this Christmas and do our bit to make it a great time for as many children as possible.

We should try and give something, even if it means our own children are one present light on the huge haul that is likely to greet them on Christmas morning.

This is the true meaning of giving.