IT will be a very happy Christmas for some families in Mansfield, thanks to the generosity of the public and businesses who helped smash the targets of two community appeals.

Mansfield District Council’s Sponsor a Bauble and Secret Santa appeals raised £3,846 — 1,846 more than the original target.

A dozen ‘elves’ from the council worked for three days to wrap around 628 gifts for men, women and children. They also packed 200 food hampers.

The gifts will be sent to families in need by Mansfield Children’s Centre Service and the council, and the hampers will be distributed via the council’s FOOD Clubs.

All the gifts for the Secret Santa Appeal were bought from or donated by local businesses and also local people.

Four charities will receive £377 from the Sponsor a Bauble appeal — the Beacon Project and Crossroads Trust, which both support rough sleepers and people at risk of homelessness in Mansfield; the Jigsaw Support Scheme, a local organisation that helps people with dementia and hoarding issues; and the local Gift of Christmas community group, which ran a Christmas hamper appeal.

The council thanked Mansfield Rotary Club for donating £1,000-worth of food and Rotary4Food a further £250-worth of goodies for food hampers. It also thanked Asda (Forest Town), HOME CO, Becky’s Bookshelf, Jemma’s Body Shop at Home, Morrisons, B&M Mansfield and Smyths Toys Superstores for supporting the campaigns by donating gifts or providing discounts.

Mansfield Mayor Andy Abrahams, who joined the gift wrappers on Wednesday, said: “I would like to thank all those who donated to the appeals for helping to bring some cheer to those most in need during this most difficult of Christmases.

“Thanks should also go to the elves for all their hard work in buying and wrapping the gifts. It’s been a marathon effort! I would especially like to thank Abbey Clarke, the council’s Events Officer, who has worked tirelessly to organise and co-ordinate these successful appeals.

“The extra money raised for the Secret Santa Appeal means we have been able to buy more gifts from local businesses, while the extra raised for Sponsor a Bauble means we have been able to donate more money to local charities to help those facing food insecurity.

“I am so proud of Mansfield. It always rallies and rises to the challenge when there are people who need that helping hand.”