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10th December 2022
10:00am GMT

Customers at the pub in Northumberland are invited to pick one of the tags off the tree and buy the requested present for that child (SWNS)[/caption]
But in a devastating reminder of the struggles facing thousands of families this winter, it wasn't new toys and video games that children asked for, with staff left "shaken" by some of the Christmas wishes they read.
One eight-year-old girl wrote: “Clean clothes, please. Mine are dirty. Size 8-9 years.”
Another tag, from a 15-year-old girl, said: “A present for my dad. He’s sad since my mum died and not in a good place.”
[caption id="attachment_369880" align="alignnone" width="879"]
One eight-year-old girl asked for some 'clean clothes' (SWNS)[/caption]
A note from a six-year-old girl said: "Something to make with mammy."
Meanwhile one note written on behalf of a 17-year-old boy, asked for “anything, as he’s used to getting nothing.”
Staff at the pub say they were “blown away” by the humble festive wishes and hope the majority of the children will have their wishes made real.
The pub, in Chatton, Northumberland, is part of a community organisation Christmas For All, which has created a gift tag for each child, giving their age, gender and outlining their request.
[caption id="attachment_369882" align="alignnone" width="900"]
A teenage girl asked for a present for her dad who is 'not in a good place' (SWNS)[/caption]
Organiser Oliver Bennet said the children’s requests “had shaken each and every one of us to the core".
He added: “You can read about hardship and food banks and poverty.
“But to see, written down in black and white, young children asking simply for some clean clothes for Christmas – well, that really hits you.
“And many of them – despite having so little themselves – put others’ happiness before their own.
“That’s the real spirit of Christmas isn’t it – and it’s heartbreaking that it’s taking children to remind us of that.”
The organisation is looking for gifts for around 2,000 children in south east Northumberland alone.
This article originally appeared on Joe.co.uk.Explore more on these topics: