BCM’s ToyLink project is already in full swing. Families are being referred by Social Services, Health Centres and other agencies. Thousands of toys are being donated by churches, schools and companies as well as individuals. The toys are being checked and sorted, then wrapped and delivered by hordes of volunteers.

This year one of those volunteers is Julie Callaghan who, 43 years ago, then nine years old, received Christmas gifts from Birmingham City Mission. She still remembers the bag of presents arriving on the doorstep, a lasting memory that has inspired her to get involved, along with her staff team from Costa Coffee, in ToyLink this year. This is her story.

“I was nine years old. It must’ve been when my dad had just left and we’d been evicted. We were living down in a squatty little house – very basic. It was a happy little place because my mum made it that way, but it was hard living. My mum had one dress and one slip. We didn’t have nothing, but not much.

This bag of presents came for me and my brother, who was one. They were all wrapped up and had our own names on them, really personal. We had some presents from my mum too, but this was different – special. We had them at Christmas for a couple of years.

Even though I got no good school reports, I did well at catering college, I think because I’m old-headed – the minute your dad walks out you have to grow up. I was one of the first women managers of Walsall FC conferencing and banqueting. Out of nothing you can be what you want to be. Me and my brother have been able to give my mum a trip on Concorde! She is a wonderful woman, has so much faith. I would’ve found it hard to forgive, with what she’s been through, but my mum used to say, “How can I teach at Sunday School and not forgive others myself?”

I’ve been the Manager at Costa Coffee at The Fort for three years now. A few weeks ago I had to decide what we – the staff and I – were going to do for our Care in the Community voluntary work programme. Whatever we were going to do, I wanted it to mean something. That day I was driving home and the Birmingham City Mission van went past. “No way!” I thought, “Is the Mission still going?”

I got on to the phone to find out what opportunities there were to volunteer and found out that Christmas toy wrapping was about to start. The staff were really up for it, and I thought, rather than just wrapping we could do a toy collection as well.

People have been so generous, staff and customers. If customers brought in a toy, we gave them a free coffee. They’ve really loved giving to the project because it’s Birmingham-based. One little boy came in with a big truck filled with little trucks and said loudly, “Here you are. I picked this!” He had a free lollipop rather than a coffee. A lot of people have donated. We are going to make it a yearly thing.

Receiving those presents as a child has been such a lasting memory. How many more children who receive presents this year will have the same memories?”

Thank you to Julie and her staff and customers at Costa Coffee, The Fort, for a whole van full of toys as well as their time and energy given to the enormous task of wrapping. Those thanks are extended to many other groups and individuals who have so generously given their time and effort, as well as toys, to ToyLink this year.

There is still time to give – we are running low on toys this year, particularly for 8-11s and teenage boys. If you would like to give a toy, book or puzzle to a Birmingham child, please bring them to BCM Head Office before December 16th at the address below, or call 0121 766 6603 if you would like us to pick up a large collection.