Santa Claus will get a helping hand this year from a Christmas gift drive for children in foster care.

The Angel Tree event, led by Lindsay Simmons, the president of the Foster Parents Association, asks people to donate a gift or cash to brighten the lives of youngsters in need.

A Christmas tree at Rosa’s Cantina restaurant on Front Street in Hamilton is adorned with angel decorations and each represents a foster child or other youngster who may lack traditional family support over the festive season.

The angels list the top three items on a child’s wishlist and members of the public can choose a decoration and buy one of the gifts.

Ms Simmons said: “We don’t ask people to just buy gifts and drop them in a box – every angel represents an individual child.

“When the gifts are collected, we put the child’s names on the gifts, wrap them and get them to the children.

“It is important to help those in foster care to get gifts for Christmas – it makes Christmas brighter for them not being with their families, especially around Christmas time.

“Children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda programme also receive gifts.

“In the past, most of the children have received what they asked for. Some don’t ask for very much and people are very giving.”

Ms Simmons, who is also a Progressive Labour Party senator, launched the annual appeal about seven years ago.

She thanked appeal sponsors, which includes reinsurance firm Renaissance Re, energy company Belco, law firm Walkers and dance school DanceSations.

The angel decorations can be picked up from the tree at Rosa’s Cantina as well as from sister restaurant Chopsticks on Reid Street and returned with the gift.

Cash can also be donated at the Chopsticks section on the Sargasso Sea food delivery app.

The money will be used to buy gifts.

The deadline for donations is December 15.