Pair buy entire contents of a toy shop to give to families who need presents this Christmas
A business owner and his partner bought the entire contents of a toy shop to give to families who need presents this Christmas.Ryan Powell purchased all the toys left at D.Emlyn Lloyd in Ystrad Mynach, south Wales, for families in need following the announcement that non-essential retailers are to close.He and business partner Paul Jones decided to splash the cash to help beleaguered parents, many of whom had been waiting for their last pay cheque to buy Christmas gifts only to see virtually all shops shut.Ryan said: "I am an employer, we employ around 80 people."I know that many people are reliant on their last wage before Christmas to go shopping."I know there are people waiting for their Universal Credit and last wage who I thought will be struggling."Me and my wife were thinking of what we could do to help when we saw D.Emlyn Lloyd's post that they have lots of toys left for sale."I got in touch with them and said I will buy them all."
The Pontypridd businessman, owner of Brecongate Projects commercial building services, arranged to purchase the toys at cost price, with the shop making no profits on the sale before sharing a post on Facebook urging families in need to get in touch with him.He said the result was thousands of shares and hundreds of messages within minutes of the post going online."Trying to read through all the message to sort out who could get what, I was doing it with a lump in my throat and tear in my eyes, knowing the struggle people have been through this year," he added."I just wish I had did it sooner. The response I had is nothing like I expected."The people that messaged me were waiting for their final pay and benefits."There are single parents who haven't wanted to risk taking their children out shopping.I am just sorry I didn't start this earlier."
The purchase of around 80 toys has managed to help 25 families, and around 70 children and Ryan is looking to see if there is anything else he can do to help.His friend Margaret Rees is also helping arrange delivery of the gifts as well as shopping to pick up a couple of more items for families in need."I am overwhelmed with the response. It is heartbreaking because of what people are going through."