Gallery 'Giving Tree' to help refugee children in Harrogate district
73 tags have been put on a tree in the Watermark Gallery with gift ideas for each refugee child
Last updated 17th Dec 2021
The owners of a Harrogate gallery are hoping to bring smiles to the faces of local refugee children.
Watermark Gallery wanted to do something this Christmas to help the families who've arrived from Syria and Afghanistan so put 73 tags with gift ideas on the tree for people to then go and buy a Christmas present for a child.
It is as for many of the refugee children who have arrived into the district, this will be their first ever safe Christmas after leaving their war-torn countries behind.
Liz Hawkes, owner at Watermark Gallery, said:
"We'd seen a lot about Afghanistan in the news and were appalled by it. We thought we'd like to do something to help and it's made us think about the important things in life and it is lovely to be able to do something beautiful although very small for these children.
"Being able to play and enjoy their lives together as families and to be able to be children is really important and it has struck a chord with us.
"It's like a symbol of warmth and a symbol of welcome so it's lovely for them to have something new, something to play with. Just to say welcome to the area and that we hope they have a lovely festive period."
Suggestions for the children included sensory lights, sewing kits, jigsaws and puzzle games and clothing.
The Watermark Gallery also chose to donate a colouring book and a set of colouring pens and pencils to each child so they can get creative over the festive period.
All donations will be handed over to Ripon City of Sanctuary to be distributed to the 73 refugee children across Harrogate district.