donating Christmas presents

Our local Salvation Army work with vunerable local families and organise Christmas presents of donated new toys and clothes + Christmas food hampers. They also operate the local Food Bank. I would check with your own Salvation Army charity shop for advice.

Our local Morrisons has a container to donate new toys.
Local radio often have a similar scheme.
I don't know anything for clothes.

Last year I donated to the local domestic abuse refuge (and think I 'll do the same again). What they wanted was small gifts for the children to give to their mums.
I agree that selling items in a charity shop isn't the same as giving (in)directly to child but would agree that a chat with SA or (your local social work dept) would help you to get those items where you want them to go.

Yes, the Women's Refuge may be glad of donations, sometimes women flee with their children and have nothing.

Other charities collect gifts for local underprivileged children, or ask at your local Food Bank or church who may have contacts.

It's lovely reading about Gransnetters wanting to give to others in need.

On our news the other night there were two instances of despicable break-ins:

Someone broke into a store where a charity had piles of wrapped Christmas presents ready for Father Christmas to give to local children. The charity had been collecting gifts all year.

Not far away someone broke into a Food Bank and stole their whole supply of toilet rolls, coffee and many other items.

In the past our local Tesco has had a 'Wishing Tree', at least that's what I think it was called, and this is how I believe it worked.
There were labels hung on the tree, and customers could take a card and make a gift to that child.
This may be a way for you to gift these things, if they are brand new and still wrapped.

Ps most of the gifts were stolen, some eg books, were left behind, presumably the thieves were illiterate as well as despicable.

The school I taught in often received gifts of new children's clothes, especially at Christmas.
They were discretely given to the children who were in dire need.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll choose one of them and sort it out.
Callistemon What horrible, callous scum.

I’ve taken them to the Salvation Army before but there citadel is easy to access.
Tesco usually have a bin, as someone has already mentioned.
They also make it easy to donate food.

So sad that some people are despicable.

You might see if there are local organizations that would like donations - if you have a community newspaper, for example, they might have some ideas. Area churches and other charitable organizations may also have some information. Around here, the Christmas Bureau and Santas Anonymous are two organizations, but I don't know if they would be in your area.

It's unbelievable, isn't it!
Stealing from those who need it most.

Woman's refuges always grateful also for toiletries. They can be discretely located but I am sure you could enquire at police station? or they would pass along?

Our local radio collects gifts for children sadly they get very few for teenage boys

I took mine to the local hospital,. also my football club were asking for gifts for underprivileged children and teenagers which I donated to.

My youngest grandchild is the last grandchild in the family and we had everything to give away as he launched from babe to toddler to nursery age. Our local women’s refuge happily took everything to equip the next of their ladies to move on with a little one to an unfurnished council flat.

Our local radio collects too admit I usually get gifts for younger children next year I will look more for gifts for older lads.

Our YMCA is collecting gifts for men which you put in a gift bag - socks, toiletries,sweets, notepad and pen, toothbrush and toothpaste, a small gift and a personalised card.

Slightly different I know, but someone on our local F/B page posted that her freezer had packed up so was offering all food in it to families in need.
This set me thinking that perhaps every quarter people who do have sufficient donate from their freezer to needy families.
I have seen real hardships in my close family when children were small and Dad left the family home, so know that this would be appreciated!

Phone a local priest or minister, he will doubtless be able to tell you where the clothes will be most appreciated.

grandtanteJE65 As an Atheist, I wouldn't know how(or want to)contact a priest

I contacted The Salvation Army "Christmas Present Appeal" and I'm taking the stuff on Monday to them. Thanks for all replies.

How about a baby bank? These work similar to food banks and donate toys, clothing and essential equipment to the most vulnerable and needy in society.

Merry Christmas xx

How about your local food bank they know who the needy are . You would make some people Christmas very happy .

Salsa, I don’t believe in God either but vicars are people too and often know of people in need.
They are easy to find, just google your local church.