A FAMILY-RUN gift-giving scheme that delivered more than 80,000 presents across the North East last Christmas is hoping the region will be as generous again this year.

Norah’s North Pole was set up by the Wilkinson family in memory of their grandmother, who annually took her children and grandchildren to buy gifts to distribute every Christmas Eve to hard-up families.

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The tradition has now been continued on a giant scale by Norah’s relations across the North East, with thousands of Santa sacks created for youngsters in need.

The Sunderland-based operation has won the backing of kind-hearted people, including one couple who used their retirement money to buy 1,000 books for the Santa sacks, while another woman donated her heating allowance to buy gifts.

Families are selected to receive gifts after being nominated by head teachers, social workers and health visitors.

Tor Imrie-Bell, from East Boldon, is one of the family members working hard to make Norah’s North Pole a success.

She said: “Christmas is the most magical time of year and the thought of a child waking up on Christmas Day without a gift is heartbreaking, some of the children don’t have a single toy of their own.

“The children we give Santa sacks to live in unimaginable circumstances every day, we want them to be able to wake up on Christmas morning and find they aren’t missing out."

Families being helped by Norah’s North Pole include a four and six-year-old brother and sister who have to sleep in their school uniforms to stay warm.

Their mum has already told them there will be no gifts at Christmas because she needs to decide between food or heating, but hopefully now they will wake up to some Christmas surprises.

Other personal situations which have led to families being nominated are two sisters who lost their mum to cancer last year and are now facing a festive season without her – with the prospect of no gifts.

Nora's North Pole Santa sacks are filled with toys, games, selection boxes, pyjamas and warm clothes which are then distributed discreetly to the parents who can they surprise their youngster on Christmas day.

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Last year, the family filled 8,876 Santa sacks with gifts for children – but the hope is to smash that record this Christmas.

Donations are raised via the Norah’s North Pole Go Fund Me page, and an Amazon wishlist has also been set up so that people can buy gifts that will be delivered directly to the Norah’s North Pole Grotto.

Anyone wanting to donate can do so the Amazon link or have toys delivered to Norah’s North Pole, Marine Activities Centre, Sunderland Marina, Roker, North Dock, Sunderland, SR6 0PW.

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