Welcome to this year's Christmas appeal. Yes we know it's only October but we've done the maths and realised we need to get on
Little bit of history for those who are new to the whole idea: over the past few years, Mumsnetters have offered to donate gifts to other Mumsnetters in need over Christmas. And you have also nominated Mumsnetters to receive these gifts. Each year, a particularly saintly Mumsnetter has volunteered to match up the donors with the nominees and organise a mass posting of presents. Last year we felt that the appeal had grown so big that we would bring it in-house and it went fairly well we feel so we are doing it again 
and this year KatMumsnet is joining us in the spreadsheet madness
Now for the nitty gritty...
If you would like to donate something to the appeal, could you please email [email protected]. You need to include your MN Talk name and what you are donating. Vouchers are usually the best bet, we've found over the years, but you are also welcome to donate new toys, clothes and books for children or "nice smellies" for adults. Secondhand toys/clothes are fine, too, but do really need to be in very good nick, please.
IMPORTANT: if you have something particular in mind, please specify CLEARLY the details of your donation e.g. Tesco voucher or new toy for a 4 year old boy or a bundle of clothes for a 6 month old girls, nearly new. Or, if you want to donate and are happy to wait to find out what's needed before you donate it, please say: VOUCHER (ANY) or TOYS (ANY) etc.
If you would like to nominate a fellow Mumsnetter (they have to have been a member for at least a year to qualify for nomination) then please send your nominations to [email protected]. You should include the Mumsnetter's ( correctly spelt, pls! ) Talk name and your reason for your nomination. It doesn't matter if they or you change nicknames; we will be able to find you/them.
All nominations and offers of donations must be with us by Monday 24 October.
Once all the names are in, nominees will receive an email by Monday 7 November, telling them they've been nominated, and will need to reply by Monday 14 November with their address, number and ages of children. Nominees need to be aware that their address will be sent to an undisclosed fellow Mumsnetter but no RL or MN names will be exchanged.
Nominees details will then be matched with donor details
Donors will have the addresses of nominees they've been matched with by Friday 25 November so that gifts can be sent well before the final Christmas post. Each Donor and Nominee will be allocated a number eg. Nominee 27 or Donor 63 to maintain anonymity and to allow nominees and donors to post on the boards with messages of thanks etc.
If you have any further questions or any extraordinary nominations, then you can email me directly on [email protected]. But please use the email addresses above for all other enquiries - or your email might well go astray.
Merry Christmas everyone and 