Spirit of Christmas

I remember that years ago someone I was speaking to said that she and her family (including her children who were teenagers then) spent every Christmas Day cooking dinner at a centre for the homeless in London.
She said that they preferred to do that than sit and indulge themselves at home knowing that people could be going cold and hungry.

That's kind, grannypiper, the offer to your neighbour

We have 2 national charities that we support RNLI and the Salvation Army, every year we alternate between the two.On the first of January each year we start filling a old pickle jar with loose change and on the first of December it is emptied and the contents given to that years charity.Every shopping day we add to the collection for the local foodbank and add a tin of food into the collection box for the local animal shelter.
Every christmas a donation is given to the foodbank instead of presents for our Adult children, although i am sad to say this does not go down well with my DH'S step daughter.Toys are given to the local centre on behalf of our grandchildren and a oxfam gift is given in my youngest stepchilds name.
On a more personal level our dear neighbour lost his wife a few months ago and he will be invited to spend as much time with us as he likes.

John Lewis usually do a gift list for a refuge charity (can't remember which one), I get each of my kids to pick a gift for a child their age that they would like from it and buy those gifts from that.

We usually donate socks to the local homeless shelter, they get a lot of hats and scarves, but if you speak to them it's socks they need the most, alternatively you can buy these lovely socks as gifts and they donate hiking socks to someone sleeping rough: www.bigissueshop.com/type/socks/

We do donate food bank bits all year round and I have one charity DD.

Due to the season there's usually a weather based/natural crisis around christmas time so we do 1 off payments to the DEC, as well as to the salvation army for closer to home.

I've had a bad experience with Shelter in the past - very nasty pushy telesales team

The local womens refuge told me they get more than they need at christmas and they have no means to store extra for age groups they aren't currently housing, so we don't do that.

Toy Shop - obviously not nationwide!

Your guess is as good as mine DaphneB

What is Smyths?

Granny23 sounds a fantastic set up, hope all goes well.

Salvation Army my choice too. They do such good work.

The Salvation Army is our chosen charity, they are wonderful.
Can't you at least have cheese on toast and soup for lunch Ab ( I would, given half a chance.)

I will curl up on the sofa with my dogs, watch 'Ballykisssngel' and 'Long Walk To Freedom, and think of you all tackling the dishes . Told you I was selfish .

Please give something to the Salvation Army, they will feed so many homeless , do soup runs , serve up hot meals . These are the truly good people

Smyths has just e-mailed, they are open to 2300 every day over Christmas.

The spirit of Christmas

annie I am in awe!

Please no, I am selfish, I cause my children and siblings upset , and I don't have all those dishes to wash

Anniebach What a special lady you are!

And I was going to invite you Jamila ,

Granny23 what a brilliant scheme!

I suppose it's like that saying:

A charity is for all year round, not just for Christmas

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The DC used to like making up shoe boxes to send off to other children overseas through their school; do they still do that in schools?

I am not coming round to yours on Christmas Day, sorry anniebach! I don't like rice cakes even in summer.

However, it is always good to add some seasonal fare to the donations to the food bank and know that someone somewhere will be able to enjoy some festive food while I'm enjoying mine. I know we can't put in fresh food, but there is lots on the shelves to choose from.

An extra boost to the normal charity too.
The DC used to like making up shoe boxes to send off to other It's Children in Need this week too.

I still have the £1 in my pocket, sorry anniebach when I see a Salvation Army person I will give it to them. But I haven't been out much.

Anniebach what a kind person you are.

We choose a charity each Christmas and give a donation.Last year it was Crisis and this year it is Water Aid.

I will support as I do throughout the year but I made a decision a few years ago not to celebrate Christmas, I attend Mass and Matins but I do not give gifts and sort of fast, sort of because I eat rice cakes , the money goes to the homeless charities, I cannot have a table laden with food whilst people are sleeping on pavements and going hungry , this is no great sacrifice , my choice and I am content with it , needless to say I spend the day alone

Yours sounds an excellent scheme.

Our church no longer takes pre-loved toys. It all has to be new. Toy Services just aint what they used to be. So, it is the Oxfam shop for the no longer wanted toys in our house.

Even the council's toy collection has to be a new purchase.