Spirit of Christmas

gillybob and Maggiemaybe

Granny 23 I salute you, brilliant idea.

I think it's worth texting a tenner for Children in Need via the Rickshaw Challenge on the One Show, just for the sake of those brave kids doing it.

Do we all actually need the Winter heating allowance?

Every now and then, there's a move that it shouldn't be available to all, but only to those who need it. But this would add to admin costs, as we know.

So some of us give their allowance to charities. Like Anniebach, I support various charities all year, but this allowance goes to the homeless via the Sally Army and Crisis.

Just a way of ensuring that the money ends up doing some good at Christmastime.

I send money to Crisis Shelter and the Salvation Army but then get really cross when the money is spent posting me request letters throughout the year

Sally Army send me one postal reminder a year, not at all pushy or glossy/expensive looking so I'm happy with that.

Shelter on the otherhand have hounded me on the phone, pushing for a DD when I only wanted to do as and whens - the irony is that they're supposed to be a charity that helps people that include those who haven't managed financially to keep a roof over their heads, and their call centre staff hard sell people who say "sorry I can't" to commit to monthly DDs! I don't want my money going to hard-sell call centres. I stopped giving to them because the way they hard-sell for donations should be totally mutually exclusive with the ethos of a charity that helps people who have fallen on hard times!

The Rickshaw Challenge is passing through our village tomorrow. We'll give them a big cheer and obviously a donation.

Well done those plucky kids.

I've asked friends and family who normally give us presents, to buy some food for the local Foodbank and leave it at the local collection points e.g. supermarkets, banks etc. I will be doing the same with the money I'd be spending on their gifts.
We're adults, have all we need and are lucky enough to be able to buy any wee thing we want or need when that need arises.
How many of us find ourselves 'recycling' Christmas presents which have been given with the best of intentions, but we find we can't find a use for? I don't know why I didn't think of it before.

This is my first post but I've been reading posts and comments for a while. I'm hoping for advice regarding used furniture donations. My mother in law died recently and we have several items of furniture in very good condition (Including beds) that we would like to donate. Problem is that charity shops won't take items as they can't sell them without labels showing furniture complies with safety regulations. As furniture does not have these labels, and despite items being in very good condition, it seems they are to be relegated to the tip. This seems a terrible waste and I'm sure there must be people who could benefit. Does anyone have any ideas of where I can donate? I am in South Wales. Thank you.

I give all year clothes, especially womens clothes, to the Sally Arm Homeless centre nearby and beore I left in November I donated a load of new womens underwear and essentials to be given as Christmas presents. I dont give any presents to the family, they have enough and they know I love them but I donate something in their name to someone. Last year a cot for a lovely Cambodian family baby who is lively little soul. This year I am hoping to donate a lorry load of wood to go towards the houde they are trying to build. For me I just want a happy day.

Shoe boxes are still very much alive round here. Our church collects them for seamen. Socks are a popular item as many of the seaman are from the tropics and only have sandals. We like to support local charities as well, but we still want to enjoy a good family Christmas. We were poor when we we young and still don't like to indulge ourselves too much or spend a lot of money. We reckon we can have a lot of fun on the cheap! I hate the rampant consumerism around at this time and feel very sorry for the young parents who get bombarded with requests for the latest must-have toys they see advertised on TV. We brought our kids up to value time spent doing fun things with the family rather than acquiring "stuff", and it seems to have worked well. But I think it is harder to do that today because of all the advertising they are subjected to. Time to get back to the "real spirit of Christmas" Go to a carol service and let the DGCs put in a donation to charity.

Nannyogmore this problem only arises if the items are to be re-sold. If you can donate direct to someone/organisation who can use them then the lack of a label is not a problem. Perhaps post them up on Freecycle? Otherwise your best bet is probably to contact house clearance firms and donate the (very small) they will pay you to the charity of your choice.

Does anyone have any ideas of where I can donate? I am in South Wales. Thank you.

Yes around here no charities will take furniture that's not fire resistant/CE marked etc so will turn down anything older, but if you don't want it wasted you can send it to a clearance shop, they'll charge about £60 for collection but at least it's going to be re-used/recycled and people on low incomes can furnish their homes nicely and cheaply from clearance shops (although it's not a pre-requisite for shopping in a clearance shop)

They'll only dump something that's absolutely un-sellable/unfixable, so that's what I usually do as I hate to think of usable stuff going to the dump.

If you can donate direct to someone/organisation who can use them then the lack of a label is not a problem

That's not what I've found, charities that donate direct (rather than sell) also want fire resistant and CE marks etc so that what they're passing on is safe, particularly because a lot of it goes to families with young children.

Clearance shops usually charge you rather than the other way around unless you have some good quality antiques. If it's just normal stuff they'll charge you. If it's antiques they'll give you a quote for the valuable stuff but still usually off set that with the cost of collecting all the other stuff

I've asked friends and family who normally give us presents, to buy some food for the local Foodbank and leave it at the local collection points e.g. supermarkets, banks etc. I will be doing the same with the money I'd be spending on their gifts.

I've tried that a few times before, almost everyone agreed then gave us "something small to open" anyway

Just heard this morning that the junior section of the local football club are collecting toys for our Pop up Shop as their Christmas Charitable activity this year. Thrilled to bits that this wee idea has taken wings and flown and is being supported by so many in the local community.

This has been such an inspirational thread. Granny23 what a brilliant idea, how wonderful it would be to see it replicated throughout the UK.

I have been finding the thought of Christmas shopping for family members who don't need anything even more difficult than usual this year. So you have all helped me decide that I am going to pluck up the courage to tell them to please buy something for their local food bank and that we will be doing the same instead of a gift to them. In the past I have worried about their reactions, but now I just don't care.

At work we do the usual secret santa and all end up with a candle/mug/soap that again we just don't need. I think it is time we changed that to contributing to helping locally. I would love that to be for the local women's refuge, but they obviously keep their address very confidential. Does anyone know how I could contact them?

Grannyby If there is one thing this thread has proved it is that almost everyone on Gransnet spends time, money or both helping the less fortunate in some way . I know that our WA groups get lots of donations for children at this time of year - it would be lovely to donate Secret Santa goodies for the mums in refuges or starting out on their new lives as lone parents.

Your idea of doing a secret Santa for your local refuge is a great one. Although refuges addresses are secret their office or advice centre contact numbers are public - just google Refuge or Women's Aid with the name of your town and something should come up.

My granddaughters Brownie pack support the SOS, Support our soldiers/Service(men or women) and they sent off a set of Christmas boxes addressed to: A lady(soldier) or A man(Soldier). The boxes are packed solid with all kinds of bits and bobs, all of which are chosen from a provided list and can be anything from Cheesy biscuits and Haribos to Hair-bobbles and playing cards. The Brownies always get a lovely Christmas card with a thank you message from whichever regiment received the presents.

I hope no-one thinks that I am being mean spirited here but I am beginning to wonder whether this is a real "worthy" cause for little Brownies to support? I have spoken to the lovely Brown owl who said she understood what I meant but their pack has always done this since she can remember. I suggested that maybe a homeless shelter or childrens charity might be more appropriate (and worthy) as lets face it soldiers are doing their job and being paid for it too although I do appreciate that there maybe recipients of the boxes who do not have family support/gifts/cards coming from home.

I would like to hear anyone else's opinion on this please.

As I was reading your post gillybob I was thinking "Why soldiers?" - there are so many more worthwhile causes. I was relieved to read that you felt the same. Just because the brownies have always done this doesn't mean they have to continue. Sounds like maybe you need a few more parents/grandparents to express the same opinion and then Brown Owl might be prevailed upon to see reason?? Maybe they could choose a different charity to benefit every year.

Good Luck!

I hope no-one thinks that I am being mean spirited here but I am beginning to wonder whether this is a real "worthy" cause for little Brownies to support? I have spoken to the lovely Brown owl who said she understood what I meant but their pack has always done this since she can remember.

I feel that way about most shoe-box appeals actually and don't participate and do other things instead

Please please please, those of you who are kindly wanting to do things for refuges or the homeless, please ring them and check what it is they actually need. They usually get too much of what people think they want and not enough of what they actually need! For example, this year the local refuge might have mostly young teens and doesn't need & can't store 200 teddy bears & baby bath toys. When I spoke to our local homeless shelter they told us that whilst they were grateful, they always got too many hats and scarfs, but what they actually needed was socks and under ware.

It's lovely that people want to help, but just a reminder to make sure your help is helpful, because unfortunately every year 100s of well mean donations miss the mark and end up causing more of a problem (logistics of storage etc) than a help

I just went on the Children in Need website Rickshaw Challenge but the minimum donation is £30.

Now, bearing in mind that I donate quite a lot to other charities (including my time) AIBU to think that this may put off a lot of people who
a) can't afford this much but want to give something
b) give to other charities but want to donate something to CinN?

notanan yes, I have sent packs of socks for Syrian refugees - local businessmen have donated shoes but a Turkish winter without socks (in a tent) must be very cold indeed.

ps they used to ask for age appropriate items to be put into the shoe boxes when the DC were doing them.

You can donate any amount to the Rickshaw Challenge. Under those boxes with set amounts in them there is a box which says Donation amount £ You can donate as little as £1 if you wish.

opr do it by simply texting. £5 or £10