The La Laguna City Council, through its Social Welfare and Quality of Life department, announced yesterday that it is organising a new edition of the Solidarity Pages during this festive season. This initiative aims to ensure that over a thousand children and young people in the municipality receive a gift on Twelfth Night. The city council has allocated 50,000 euros for this project, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Red Cross, to distribute to 649 families identified by the Social Services. This support will include both direct provision of toys as well as gift vouchers for the purchase of toys, books, and clothing.
The mayor of La Laguna, the socialist Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, explained that this initiative “seeks to urgently fulfil a fundamental need, namely the right of children to play, which is essential for their development and learning, especially during significant occasions such as Three Kings Day, ensuring that no child is deprived of toys due to financial constraints.”
Overall, 1,098 children between the ages of 0 and 17 in the municipality will benefit. Gift vouchers will be allocated for purchasing educational toys suitable for children aged 0 to 2; toys for those aged 2 to 12; as well as clothing and sports footwear for the 12 to 17 age group.
Luis Yeray Gutiérrez also praised “the efforts of everyone in the Social Services department who have been dedicated to providing ongoing support to those most in need and monitoring the various situations we encounter in the community, in collaboration with committed organisations such as the Red Cross, whose significant involvement in this initiative must be acknowledged.”
Raising Awareness
The council member in charge, María Cruz, emphasised that the Pajes Solidarios initiative “goes beyond merely distributing toys; it also involves crucial efforts to inform and raise awareness among families regarding the appropriate use and types of toys, ensuring that the products acquired meet the needs, age, and preferences of the children for whom they are intended.”
Additionally, “there is a strong emphasis on providing new toys that are non-sexist and non-violent, with a priority placed on educational and collaborative toys,” stated the social department councillor.
