A KIND-HEARTED woman is collecting donations for her 13th toy appeal to help Ayrshire families in time for Christmas.

Christine Oliver, 66, voluntarily manages the Ayrshire Kids Christmas Toy Appeal for the masonic club in Kilmarnock.

The appeal helps people by providing free toys to families, so that the children will have something to wake up to on Christmas.

Christine got involved with the appeal after she lost everything in a house fire many years ago.

The appeal offers free toys to families who can't afford them for Christmas (Image: Christine Oliver) She said: "The kindness of people was unbelievable, so it's really a payback we've been doing to others.

"I was also in Smyths one day, and there was a woman and a wee boy ran up to her with a toy in his hand and said, 'Can I get this for Christmas?', and the woman said, 'You know Santa’s not coming this year, we don’t have the money.'

"When I got home, I thought there must be so many other people like this."

Before attendees are taken round the gifts by volunteers, they're asked how many children they're there for, are they boys or girls, and what age group they're in.

Last year the appeal helped almost 900 families (Image: Supplied) In 2023, the initiative helped 879 families who came from all across Ayrshire, which resulted in one of their biggest years yet.

Christine added: "People are always very grateful. It's getting bigger and bigger every year, when I first started I helped around 300 families."

Volunteers take the time to work throughout the night before in order to set everything up at the Kilmarnock Masonic Club.

The last date for donations is Wednesday, November 20 between 10.30am and 2pm.

Used and brand-new toys are accepted, and all items are sanitised before being offered to the public.

Christine credits the reactions of the people she helps as her main motivation for her 13 year commitment.

She said: "To be honest when you see them you don’t want to stop it because you think what are they going to do and how are they going to get help the way we help.

"You actually feel good after it’s finished and you think about the amount of children who are going to wake up on Christmas morning with a smile on their face.

"It’s bigger than you would ever think to be honest, the amount of people who struggle."