Mumsnet Talk

The Christmas Donation

*We have some of the funds remaining from our first donation (a very big thank you to all who made this possible!) so that remainder has been carried forward for the Christmas donation.

*We will be donating to the same women's refuge in the south of England, and await confirmation of their numbers and requirements.

*However, we would also like to extend the offer to two more refuges - this time in the north of England (chosen because I am able to meet with in person). They provide short term accommodation for women as well as a whole host of support and outreach programmes while they are with them. It seemed particularly poignant to donate to them once they disclosed the ages of the children housed with them - only a handful of children, but all age 2 and younger. Books will be provided through Nickel as before but will be shipped up to me to pass on

*The number and type of book we are able to donate will depend on the total amount of contributions - we will cut our cloth accordingly!

So, this thread has been started to ask if there are more people who would be interested in contributing - as well as providing a new space in which to update you all on our progress.

This is the StorySenders blog - the first page of which has the link to Nickel's page - where you can find details of sending paypal funds, sending a cheque or calling into her shop in Sittingbourne.

NOTE: After each set of donations, the names of those people who have made it possible will be listed on the blog. This is first names only to preserve a degree of anonymity but, if you would prefer your contribution to read "A StorySender from Devon" (for example), please state at the time of buying your StorySenders amount - by adding a note on your paypal payment page.

Any questions, please feel free to post, pm, comment via the blog or e-mail to storysenders@gmail.com
We have the second weekend in December in mind as our final date for collating funds - to provide time to post (up North) and deliver (down South) - which gives us a couple of weeks to spread the word.

A very Happy Christmas to all our StorySenders - thank you for sharing a little joy at this special time of year

I would like to buy a book. Is there a particular age group that is low in donated books?

MissWooWoo - so far, we have been taking set amount donations (based on the price of a book) and allocating the books according to requests from the refuge.
If you have a particular request, then please do say so on your payment - at the moment, most of the children seem to be 1-4 years old (but there are some older ones)

Thank you MissWooWoo - hopefully this page explains further - apologies there is a lot to take in at once, it's a simple concept - honest! Let us know if you have any further queries, thanks again for your interest in this.

oh I see! I'll get that sorted out over the next few days - it's a great idea.

Ah I'm glad it became clearer

<evening bump>

<late night bump>

Good morning all!
Just starting to compile lists of prospective books ideas for when the Christmas donations are ready to go!

I just donated another book for Christmas. I do think it's a great idea.

We have a confirmed first drop-off for one of the Northern Refuges - I will be receiving the books from Nickel and visiting the refuge in the next week or two! This is using the existing funds and it has been great to be able to just say "what age children do you have with you?" and be able to pick books and have them ready to give almost straight away. The refuge are very grateful and lovely to deal with - I am just waiting to hear back from the second contact in the North (they cover a wider area, trying to whittle it down to specifics at present). Hopefully more people will find this thread over the weekend

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Thank you so much Mathsdidi - very much appreciated!

I have also donated again. I am fully in support of this and think you have done a brilliant job Ivana and Nickel. I'll keep on popping back to the thread to see how its going .
I also take part in the John Lewis refuge gift list but I think this is so much better as we know exactly where its going. I bet it is a huge lift for the staff in the refuge to see a little amount of joy that these donations bring to the children who really need it.

This is a wonderful campaign. Anyone who missed out on the MN Secret Santa should donate <stern>

It comes with free warm and fuzzy good feelings.

to Ivana and Nickel

Well done all!

I have donated again. It's a wonderful idea and such a worthy cause.

I couldn't see anywhere to add a message though.

bumps into active conversations
Be back later!

Down, Fancy, Doctrine, Quenelle - thanks so much for your words of encouragement - it's a real boost y'know
Thank you for your contributions too - very kind
Thanks for the bump dawn

How can I add a message to my donation? Is it too late now?

Sorry, Quenelle - was just about to reply to that bit. If you send a pm to Nickel? She can add it to the collated list of funds etc. Thanks again ooo look, a wee Scottish smiley

Oh Goody, a Christmas book thread!

I made a donation in the October thread, but since that is already two months ago I'd love to do a Christmas one too. Same as before using paypal via Nickelbooks?

(I will go back and read the thread now to check )

If anyone is thinking of donating it's really easy plus there is a bonus of feeling all warm and fuzzy

Thanks for the pm ivana, such a good cause and I will certainly be d

thank you everybody - It will mean so much to the children that someone is thinking about them (and most probably to the mums too, as it takes a little bit of pressure off them!)

thanks for the heads up, Ivana

and well done all involved



<bumping>

and

<marking place>

I also missed where I could add a note but have re-read the info and appears this should go on a note with your paypal payment.

I should have put that in the survey I did - the only improvement I would make would be to make it clearer how to add a note with your donation as I missed it both times (probably my own fault for not reading the info properly in the first place though!)