Every year in South Wales an anonymous Rotarian – Mr X – together with their local community collect over 6500 presents to gift to children in local orphanages.
Over 63 years ago Mr X and his family supported a young child from the local Orphanage to give them the experience of joining in family life for a few hours a week.
They found that friends wished to donate Christmas presents to this child. The generosity was too much for one child so other children in the Orphanage also benefitted.
This evolved into a yearly event with the idea of letting children less fortunate know that Santa had not forgotten them.
It was decided to extend this to needy children in the area, hence the Mr X Appeal was born.
The principle of the appeal is that no one gets credit, and no money is involved.”
The principle of the appeal is that no one gets credit, and no money is involved. It is purely about gifts bringing happiness to young children.
The original Mr X sadly passed 6 years ago, however, the tradition continued as his son took over joined by two Morriston Rotarians.
The Appeal is now run by these 3 individuals who supervise, organise, and ensure the smooth running of the Appeal. Mr X joined The Rotary Club of Morriston 3 years ago.
The way the Appeal works now is that child support agencies, schools, refugees etc (there are over 150 of them) get in touch with the Appeal.
They then forward the first name and ages of needy children in their area.
The area covers Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Cardiff, and Carmarthenshire.
The area covers Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, Cardiff, and Carmarthenshire.”
The names are given to individuals, various organisations, schools, churches, businesses etc.
People drop off their gifts at local collection points and a team of drivers, many of whom are Rotarians, call to collect the donations.
The gifts are then taken to a designated building where a team of volunteer’s sort and check them ready to be taken to the children.
The annual event is kindly supported by local businesses that provide the volunteers with transport, a site to work from and supplies.
