More than 60,000 children and families live under the poverty line in Ireland and some of them might not have any presents for Christmas, according to the Barnardos children's charity.
Ms Colette Miller of Barnardos said: "Many families still face poverty, children leave school early and other families are affected by alcohol and drug misuse or bereavement."
To provide support services for children in need, Barnardos is expanding its scheme to collect toys and books in the weeks leading up to Christmas,
The AIB and Barnardos Toy Appeal will run from Monday next until December 17th. Organisers welcome new and preferably unwrapped toys and books which can be brought to any AIB branch and left in the special toy appeal bag.
Last year about 3,000 toys were donated in the Christmas appeal. Ms Anne-Maria O'Reilly of AIB's Better Ireland programme said this year expectations were even higher.
"We hope to receive about 9,000 toys and books this year," she said.
The AIB Better Ireland Programme supports 12 Barnardos projects throughout Ireland and more than 12,000 children, young people and families benefit from Barnardos charity work each year. Barnardos has offices in 14 countries.