Spirit of Christmas

How about this? Even if it is not to the taste of the non believers I had to say I enjoyed it and it was very cleverly performed. Sit back and enjoy.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJxTdJh15Ws

Silent night, holy night!
Sleeps the world, hid from sight.
Homeless laid in alleyways bare
Rich men pass, full of Christmas fare
To sleep in uneasy peace,
Sleep in uneasy peace

Silent night, holy night!
Children cower, cold with fright
Scared of all that the darkness might bring
Bombs, or conflict, or beatings that sting
Where’s the heavenly peace?
Where is the heavenly peace?

Silent night, holy night!
Comes the morn, warming light
Rouse in us transformative zeal
With resolve to truly make real
Justice this Christmas time!
Peace at this Christmas time

Justice this Christmas time!
Peace at this Christmas time

Written by a consultant at a Liverpool hospital.

Just realised that I did not report back on the success of our Christmas Shop, now in its 3rd year. We had vastly more donations this year and far more customers but surprisingly made exactly the same amount of money (£1,600) as last year which we split between the two food banks in the County, However the main aims of the shop are to recycle toys, party clothes, etc which would otherwise go to the coup and to ensure that parents can provide a super Christmas for their children from their own, however limited, resources without resorting to debt or depending on Charity. We have certainly helped hundreds of families this year.

I will let Pensionpat tell her story of her Christmas Shop, which was, thanks to contact via Gransnet, modeled on our one. In their first year they outperformed us If any one else would like to have a go for Christmas 2017 both Pat and I would be happy to pass on information and advice on any aspect of the project.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxYHauyVdCw&feature=youtu.be

This is actualy the video from the previous year but I watch it frequently when I am a bit down - never fails to cheer me up.

Indeed I did take inspiration from Granny23, and she has given great advice and moral support to Xmas4Kids. If anyone would like details I can give you more, but the highlights are as follows

We had a primary aim too of helping local families cope with the cost of Xmas. The money raised was a useful by-product.

The local community were right behind us and donated mountains of toys etc.

We were able to support other charities by passing on donated items not suitable to us

We had a magnificent donation of £500 of new toys. We passed these on to Social Services for them to distribute them to the neediest families.

We identified a homeless family and were able to give them significant and ongoing support through Foodbank and Church.

On Xmas Eve we gave away toys and people still insisted on making a donation. All the remaining stock was donated to charity shops.

We expected to raise a couple of hundred pounds for Food Bank. We raised £2300.

We had a small army of volunteers and the whole experience was a joy. I am planning the next one!

I know others were doing similar things and I would love to hear about them.

I am wondering how your shop did this year Pensionpat?
I hope it was as successful as last year.

It looked as if we would not be able to run ours this year as, for various reasons, many of the usual crew were unable to help and we could not secure any suitable premises. However, our good friends in the local 'not for profit' recycling business who have previously helped us with transport and shop furniture were very anxious to see the shop continue for its fourth year and they, together with the local third sector interface, stepped into the breach by offering part of their warehouse and the services of their volunteers.

I must admit that I was at first a bit aggrieved that someone else had, not exactly stolen but more adopted MY baby, but the new shop, run on the same principals that we established 4 years ago has been a great success, just as busy as usual at the new location, was inundated with donations from individuals and schools, community groups and even the private nursery who organised a fundraising event, bought brand new toys chosen by the wee ones and then brought them into the shop to hand them over. Best of all the new volunteers loved it and are determined to run it again next year. The left over stock has been donated to various local charities who work with children and a large sum of money raised again. Due to caring responsibilities, I was only able to do a couple of shifts in the Shop this year but that was enough to prove to me that the concept of giving families in need the means to ensure by their own efforts, that their children have a great Christmas is in safe hands for the future. I'm a very happy bunny at the moment