Glencore’s Andrew Kelly and Darren Meyer and will have loaded up the trailer by now and embarked upon the eight-hour drive to the remote town in the state’s north-west.

They both work at Glencore’s Ravensworth Open Cut mine and, after contacting The Salvation Army, came up with idea of the Country Toy Run.

“We found out some parents in the outlying villages are doing it tough and can’t afford to purchase gift for their children,” Mr Kelly says.

“So we asked our employees to donate a gift worth between $15 and $20.

“Our goal was 120 presents but we collected 130 and will also be sending some food hampers.”

Mr Kelly says the whole of their workforce contributed including on-site contractors and some consultants. He thanked Belinda Palmer in particular for her assistance. 

“Darren’s two children actually gave up one present each to put under the tree,” he explains.

“A very generous donation of two push bikes was made and we will be giving them to two local schools so they can teach the kids how to ride one.”

“The presents will be given directly to the parents in the two small villages so they are used on Christmas Day.  

“The rest will be distributed to Centacare in Bourke and to some grandparents in a local care facility who can’t afford presents for their grandchildren.

“Although we may think things are bad here in Singleton, it is much worse out there.  

“With no rain some local families are really struggling.”

And the Toy Run is not the only way Glencore has contributed to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal.

After hearing about the plight of families in the state’s western region they made a donation in excess of $10,000.

The company has contributed $170,000 to The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal, over the past five years.