A bank has signed up to help a children’s charity deliver toys and essential items to families for Christmas.

HSBC today announced today it would back the Toys for Tots campaign, organised by the Coalition for the Protection of Children, for the second year in a row.

Joanna Saldok, the chief operating officer of HSBC Bermuda, said: “This year particularly, our community has faced many challenges.

“Due to the hardships many people have faced and continue to face in 2020, charities and organisations have seen an increase in families and individuals seeking assistance.”

“Toys for Tots is a good example of how our community works together to ensure its members feel supported through what may be considered a very stressful time for some families.”

Toys for Tots, which started in 2002, helps provide toys and essential goods such as toiletries, grocery vouchers and school uniforms to families in need.

The coalition and HSBC last year collected more than 2,000 gifts from the public, which the charity delivered to families across the island.

Ms Saldok pledged to provide more than 100 food hampers this year.

She added: “On behalf of HSBC Bermuda, I would like to thank the retail vendors and corporate entities collecting donated items and also to those individuals who have donated to this worthy cause each year.”

Kelly Hunt, the executive director of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said: “The coalition appreciates the generous support for the Toys for Tots Programme and would like to thank everyone who has participated in the initiative over the years.

“We are very pleased to be working with HSBC to deliver this holiday cheer to our families for 2020.”

She added: “Thankfully, Bermuda has always demonstrated its philanthropic spirit each year and helps to alleviate some of that stress over the holiday period.

“Now more than ever, we hope that community will once again come together to support the families who need assistance.”

The Toys for Tots campaign launched on November 16 and will run to December 4.

Donated items can be dropped off at The Annex Toys, the Bermuda Bookstore and the People’s Pharmacy, all Hamilton, Price Rite in Pembroke and Warwick, Gorham’s hardware store and Arnold’s Discount Warehouse, both Pembroke.

They can also be handed in to HSBC branches at the Habourview Centre and Church Street, both Hamilton, St. George and Somerset.

Cash donations to the coalition are also welcomed help fund the coalition’s breakfast programme and educational support services.