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7 Ways We Can Help Others This Christmas

It’s so easy to get carried away at Christmas with all the shopping, family and festivities. The other side of it is that some people find this time of year the most challenging, in particular following the year we’ve had. I noticed that Deliveroo is providing free food deliveries for NHS workers and started researching ways we can support people locally and around the world this winter. It’s brilliant if you can make a monetary donation, but if this isn’t possible donations of stuff you don’t need any more or a couple of hours volunteering really goes a long way too.

Gifts For Local Children

Each year the Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal benefits millions of children and young people who would not otherwise receive a Christmas gift. It’s a really simple way to give back locally. Find your nearest Salvation Army via their website and pop in any time before the appeal closes in mid-December. Recommendations on what to give include: teddies, baby clothes, educational games, colouring sets, books and puzzles, makeup and toiletries.

Shoe Box Gifts For Children Worldwide

No doubt we’re all familiar with the famous shoebox appeals! It’s such a simple way to have a positive impact on a child’s life. Encourage your children to think up little gifts (soft toys, crayons, school supplies) that they’d like to pack into the box. The boxes reach poor and disadvantaged children around the world, and in some cases, as with Children In Distress, there is an option to pack a box for an older person too. You may be able to organise sending a box through your child’s school or local church. Otherwise, here are a few online options: Samaritan’s Purse, FSCI, and Rotary Shoebox.

Clothes & Everyday Essentials For Families

Support local babies, children and families, by donating stuff you don’t need anymore — think cots, blankets, playmats, clothes the kids have grown out of — to a local charity like Little Village. This London-based charity also has a wish list from which you can contribute by buying nappies, toiletries, period products and more. While Little Village is London-based, there’s a helpful map on its website showing baby banks across the UK where you can donate items.


You might also like: 21 Christmas Gift Ideas For The Man Who’s Hard To Buy For


Free Food Deliveries For NHS Workers

Deliveroo is offering some phenomenal support this winter. The food delivery service is giving away 500,000 meals for free to NHS workers and those most in need. If you have a restaurant and would like to donate food, you’re able to do so by completing the Deliveroo form here. You can also support the NHS food deliveries with a monetary donation here or through the Deliveroo app.

Christmas Dinner For Homeless People

Nobody should be alone at Christmas and Crisis are working to bring homeless people support, friendship, food and a place to stay this season. You can help by donating money, volunteering or campaigning. There are options to volunteer nationwide, currently in Birmingham, Coventry, Newcastle and London. Otherwise, get involved by running your own sponsored event!

Support Charities Through Online Virtual Fairs

A highlight of the festive season is usually getting out and about supporting small businesses through Christmas markets and fairs, but sadly not this year! Instead, everything has moved online. The Rugby Portobello Trust Christmas Market (15-18 November 2020) raises funds for children, young people and families in North Kensington through stalls and a Silent Auction, and gives you a discount on top quality artisans, designers and brands. Other online fairs to check out are: The EEC Fair (in support of the ABF Soldiers’ Charity) and Thomas’s Online Fair (in support of Thomas’s Foundation).

Books For Vulnerable Children

With many people facing a difficult Christmas this year, you can help the BookTrust send book parcels to children who may not receive anything else this Christmas. The reading charity is asking for £10 donations to make this possible and support over 14,000 children. Books being sent out this year include The Gruffalo Sound Book, Elmer: A Classic Collection, Through the Animal Kingdom, Our Planet, Wild Lives and Guinness World Records 2021.

Beds For Young Homeless People

There are a record number of young people sleeping rough around the UK and winter is the time of year they’re most at risk. Homeless people’s charity Centrepoint works to turn people’s lives around by providing them with a warm place to stay, basic essentials, and counselling services. A donation of just £10 can really make a difference to someone’s life.


For more Christmas content, click here.

See also:

22 Christmas Decorations To Get Your House Ready For The Big Day

A Lockdown Christmas? 18 Things To Keep Your Family Entertained This Season

23 Things To Treat Your Tween To This Christmas


Looking for something else? Take a peek in my directory for gift recommendations, services and small business support by clicking here.

Photo by Kat Yukawa on Unsplash
Events Family Life

Teach Your Children About Giving This Christmas

‘I want that for Christmas…’ for the 17th time during the adverts for Peppa Pig was starting to pain me. So we had the chat. ‘Some children don’t even have a roof over their head, let alone Christmas presents…’ The two year old drew a blank, but the boys got it! I saw an opportunity…

They really wanted to give something this Christmas – so I looked into a few ways they could do that. I hope you will find this rather refreshing after all the recent posts on Gifts!

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Salvation Army Christmas Present Appeal 

Go and buy a few nice presents and drop them at your nearest Salvation Army. The Salvation Army are receiving new unwrapped gifts to distribute to adults and children who are homeless this Christmas.

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Christian Aid Worldwide Christmas Appeal 

Go online and choose a practical present for people fleeing violence this Christmas.  A hygiene kit, a pair of boots and a days worth of food for a Syrian Refugee.  It will also aid you in explaining that most things we take for granted.

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Operation Christmas Child with Shoebox World 

It’s too late to buy and send a real shoebox filled with treats, so go online and pack a virtual one for a child which they can choose the gender and age for. This then will become a tangible shoebox to children around the world.

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I thought  The Wellspring Charity Foundation PND Hamper was worth a mention too.

Through The Wellspring Charity Foundation PND Hamper Fighting Poverty you can donate a hamper to someone who is in financial difficulty who you suspect has PND or has been diagnosed with PND. There is even an option nominate yourself.

Another way you can donate is the NSPCC Letter To Santa 

Each letter is £5 which goes straight to the NSPCC Christmas Campaign and your child will receive a personalised letter from Father Christmas.  No excuse not to really!

Lastly, The Mayor of London website is a great resource to narrow down your search and find opportunities to volunteer in your borough.

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Remember, actions speak louder than words and the best way to teach your children is through example, so go and volunteer, buy some presents or get online.

You could even just wear your slippers for Shelter today!

If you know of any other  2016 Christmas Campaigns, please let me know and I will add them xx