Here is the Christmas thread for a charitable venture I have set up called StorySenders. (This follows a hugely successful first appeal - inaugural thread here )
If you haven't read about StorySenders already - all is explained on this page of the fledging blog; here 
Basically, people contribute funds which are then used to buy a new book for a child in need. All you have to do (if you'd like to contribute) is provide funds - the organisation, choosing, delivering etc is all done at our end. (Very similar to the charity Refuge who have the John Lewis Christmas list set up at this time of year?) all monies go towards the book rrp and - if we have enough funds - toy rrp. (E.g. a Gruffalo Book and a small teddy of the Gruffalo!)
The first donations have been in conjunction with Nickel who, as an independent shop owner, has been the supplier of the children's books/goods and met in person with our first recipients - a women's refuge in the South of England. The link to Nickel's site and StorySenders page can be found on today's (Wednesday 28 November) blog post.
Books from these Christmas donations will be going to women's refuges in both the North and South of England - I will write a bit more in another post but keep this OP short(ish!) for now
Oops my finger slipped on the donate button again 
Two weeks 'til Christmas... festive bump 
Thank you to everybody
Brilliant idea! Not in a position to help unfortunately but as a lover of books and having worked with children I know how important they are.
Do you have any use for second hand/almost new books?
My DD is a Doctor Who fan & has just had a ruthless clear out of some of her younger books now she's almost at Uni
I'd love them to go to a good home - tried selling them but they weren't wanted.
Hello Bossy - thanks for your support
"Do you have any use for second hand/almost new books?" thank you for the offer but no we don't; the logistics of this are rather more complicated en masse. But I do know that the refuges I have been in contact with have been appreciative of being approached for donations - I think they tend to get overlooked? (Perhaps people tend to ebay, free cycle, give to charity shops or fill doorstep charity bags rather than think of refuges / sheltered housing?)
In general they aren't the easiest to track down though, for obvious reasons. I would suggest that, if you look at your Local Council website / try to find information related to a local Housing Association, they should/could have information there about a refuge you could ask re:Dr Who books - alternatively your local children's centre could help with either passing the books on (if appropriate) or or giving you an e-mail contact? Hope that helps.
Update: dropped off the bundle to the Northern Refuge, had a lovely chat with the lady there who told me a bit more about what they do. I appear to have offered my services to run a baby singing / music session in the New Year 
it's hard not to want to just do something when faced with the reality of what they deal with.
Anyway, the books were very gratefully received - I think I can pass on the message that they will be given to the mums by their individual support workers so that they can be shown how to read / play with them, or at least given a bit more confidence to do so, with their little one.
Thank you all, again, for helping this idea come to life in order for this to happen.
Fancy too for your donation - lovely of you!
Nickel is just getting together the bundle for the 2nd Southern Refuge, we will update again in a few days / early next week.
thank you Bossy - there are indeed lots of occasions where second hand/nearly new books are great donations, and I don't want to repeat what Ivana has just said, but I will just add:
the reason that we're making these gifts new books is that we want the children to feel important and loved . It's best done in this case by giving them new books, to make them feel like they're worthy of something nice and new.
It would just be too complicated for us to organise second-hand donations, too. (as it would mainly need a completely different set of criteria and rules)
I do hope that you find a Dr Who fan in need
yes, next Southern bundle - if anyone has any particular ideas that you would like me to try to incorporate, I will do.
We have had a specific request that we can honour in this bundle (age of child)
Women's Aid's Policy and Services manager, Deborah McIlveen, thinks StorySenders is
"a fantastic idea" phew
today's MN webchat with her, here
lovely
i agree - every child should have great stories, regardless of situation.
Last weekend before Christmas festive bump
it was a lovely though Bossy
Final Christmas Update
All drops/collections have been made - thank you Nickel for your joint efforts to get these completed (we've made quite the 'team' haha)
Details can be found on the blog storysenders.blogspot.co.uk
If you have just joined us, or didn't find this the first time, do let us know your thoughts on this survey - December Feedback Survey link here
On Christmas morning - some women who have come from a variety of difficult, turbulent and complex backgrounds, who are spending their Christmas with their babies, toddlers or child in safe housing, will have an extra, new, book / toy / gift to share with them - all thanks to you.
Honestly, if it wasn't for your contributions of money this would still just be an idea floating in my tired brain the sky.
Our thanks don't seem enough, but Thank You
A Very Happy, Peaceful and Joy-Filled Christmas to you and yours - and all Best Wishes for a Prosperous and Happy New Year 
Quite a lot of the pressies were things I desperately wanted myself
The bundles look absolutely lovely!! Well done, nickel and ivana!! to you both! Wishing you and your families a wonderful Christmas and a Very Happy New Year
thank you
we couldn't have done this without the very generous donations
Ivana did most of the leg work - I just collected money and chose books.
she's worked ever so hard.
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