Bring a toy and bring a smile to a flood-affected child

GOLD Coast United players and staff are urging all spectators heading to this Saturday's FREE home fixture at Skilled Park to donate any unused toys to the young families devastated by the recent Queensland floods.
While many families embark on the long journey to recovery, United are providing an easy outlet for Queenslanders to continue their support by generously giving small items as a contribution to the flood relief at this weekend's match against the Newcastle Jets.

The club is seeking good-condition items that can be carried to the stadium, and are asking for the toys to be bagged and clearly labelled to indicate an age range for the toy and whether it is appropriate for a boy or girl.
The donation collection point will be a truck located opposite Gate D, near the stadium's Eastern Car Park, which can be accessed once the gates open at 6.45pm until kick-off at 8.15pm.

Players and staff will transport and distribute the donations to residents of one of the state's most hard-hit flood affected regions next week, the Lockyer Valley, whose farmers are enduring a trying time after losing livestock and crops as a result of the severe flooding.
Gold Coast United Community and Events Manager, Nicole van Leeuwestyn, said the toy appeal was an easy way for Gold Coast families who were fortunate enough to not be affected by the floods to help ease the burden for many other young families who are in distress.

"Toys are probably not high on the list of priorities for the families trying to rebuild their lives at the moment, so the donations offer a way to make the rebuilding phase more bearable," she said.
"Almost every household will have at least one toy they no longer use that goes unnoticed in the toy box, so we're asking mums, dads and children to go through their stocks while it's still school holidays and bag them up to bring on Saturday.
"We hope these efforts can help lift the spirits of the many children who have lost their favourite belongings as a result of the recent floods. It is an opportunity for those who may not be able to give monetary donations to help make a difference."

Saturday 22 January 2011 - Hyundai A-League week 24
GOLD COAST UNITED v NEWCASTLE JETS
Skilled Park, Gold Coast
Kick off: 8.15pm (QLD)
Admission: FREE

To obtain tickets go to ticketek.com.au