Toys lost on London Underground donated to Salvation Army

Transport for London has donated more than 300 toys from its lost property office to the Salvation Army. Picture: TfL

Elizabeth Edmonds Friday, November 23, 2012
2:26 PM

A mountain of children’s toys collected by Transport for London’s (TfL) lost property office have been donated to The Salvation Army just in time for Christmas.

For the sixth year running, TfL have given over 300 lost toys to the Deptford branch of The Salvation Army as part of their Christmas Present Appeal. The charity will now work alongside Lewisham Council to distribute the toys to those who may otherwise have gone without this festive period.

All the toys, ranging from dolls and play sets, to board games and electronic gadgets, had been left on the London transport network and had gone unclaimed for over three months.

Paul Cowan, Operations Performance Manager of the Lost Property Office, said: “It is a sad fact that many children go without at this time of year. It is great to be able to provide a little bit of joy and excitement for those who may not be as fortunate as others.”

“It is also satisfying knowing that although the toys have not been given to their original owners, they will still be loved and enjoyed just the same.”

Captain Kevin Stanbury of The Salvation Army’s Deptford Community Centre, said:

“We work in the heart of the community and with the increase in the cost of living, many people that we work with were struggling to see how they would be able to give even the most basic gift to their children. This donation means that children who would have gone without this year will now have gifts to open on Christmas morning. It really does make a difference!”

The TfL lost property office has received over 15 million items since it was established in 1933. Last year, over 220,000 items were handed in with many strange items including false teeth, wedding dresses, a puffer fish, breast implants, an urn of ashes and even a parachute ending up in the office.

Around a quarter of items found on the network are restored to their owner but items not claimed are donated to charities or sold at auction.