“It’s more blessed to give than to receive,” the old spiritual saying goes. A local real estate firm is encouraging people to take this to heart and consider the hundreds of children who are in need this holiday season.This is the final week to give to Coldwell Banker’s Tenth Annual Toys for Tots programme.This year organisers are aiming to get gifts for 1,500 children associated with the Coalition for the Protection of Children who otherwise would have to go without.Sales representatives Cratonia Smith and Heather Chilvers said gift-giving this year has been “good”, but donations were down because of the challenging economic climate.Ms Smith said: “With the Christmas spirit starting to take hold these last few days the general public is becoming increasingly interested in the campaign, but we are continuing to appeal for more public support to ensure that we meet our goal.”At the moment there is a lack of toys for children between the ages of ten and 16. Ms Chilvers said there was also a need for more gifts suitable for teenagers, including CDs, DVDs and movie vouchers.The two women decided to take over the reins of the annual toy drive this year, but said all staff at Coldwell were very proud of the initiative.“Every employee at Coldwell Banker has gotten involved with this campaign,” Ms Smith explained. “Heather and I are spearheading the drive but several other employees have initiated drives in their own personal circles which is extremely admirable. Everyone is excited.”Ms Chilvers encouraged all Bermudians to get into the spirit of giving this holiday season and support the Toys for Tots campaign.“Think of people who have less than you do,” she said. “A lot of people might say, ‘Well I don’t have much’, [but] believe us there are always people worse off than you are.”Ms Smith added: “Families are facing hard times for any number of reasons and believe it or not no one is exempt. We are all at risk of a change of circumstances that can lead to our own family being in need.“With that in mind it’s extremely important that we support and uplift those in our community who are facing hard times so that they can remain encouraged to see themselves through their current situation.“Giving a toy to a child in need is a small gesture that goes a long way in lifting the spirits of our children in need and their families. It shows that their island cares for them and is interested in their well-being.”You can drop donations off directly to Coldwell Banker on Par-La-Ville Street or at a number of drop boxes at Annex Toys, Bookmart, Little Peoples Toys (in the People’s Pharmacy), Daisy & Mac, Hunts, Gorhams, Arnolds Warehouse, Heaven Sent Boutique and Face & Body.The deadline for all toys is this Friday. They will then need to be sorted and wrapped in time for the Coalition’s Christmas Party on December 9.