Xmas present appeal from Refuge.

[AlwaysWild]

Seen this appeal from Refuge on their facebook page:

"Have you started to buy your Christmas presents yet? Please help to make sure that every woman and child in our refuges gets at least one present this year by supporting our Christmas gift list appeal: www.johnlewisgiftlist.com/, list number 478985. Gifts start from just £1.50 so please give what you can to help bring some happiness to women and children escaping domestic violence this Christmas. Thank you."

What a great idea.

[bumpybecky]

can you link to the refuge fb page please? I can't find them by searching (only american groups)

I love the idea of the appeal and would like to share it on fb :)

[AlwaysWild]

Here you go I think

[bumpybecky]

yup that works - thanks :)

[Chrysanthemum5]

Yes this is great. I donated to it last year and its very easy to do.

[BertieBotts]

How lovely. I've just looked through the whole list and now I'm crying. Not sure why but it was the gloves that set me off. And the camera. And the toys I know DS would like. Mixed feelings as well because although Christmas in a refuge wouldn't be the biggest or the best, it might just be the first one that feels happy.

[bumpybecky]

my Mum used to volunteer in a refuge when I was about 6 or 7. I remember visiting and playing as they had this HUGE wooden fort in the garden. I had no idea at the time why the children were there, just loved going there and playing.

That Christmas Mum couldn't bring herself to have a normal Christmas at home, so all the money she'd normally spend on presents for us got spent on the kids at the refuge. I had a spider hand puppet just like the ones on the telly (can't remember the show now, but was my fave then!) and some chocolate. Looking back I had no idea we'd not had the normal amount of stuff, just remember playing with all these extra people and my fabby puppet :)

I'll be buying something from the list. Hope it makes someone's Christmas a little better.

[SolidGoldVampireBat]

Have donated something and am going to link this to the OCC thread for all those who despise Samaritans Purse but would like to give gifts to those in need and/or encourage their DC to do so.

[AlwaysWild]

That would be great SGM. And maybe they could put a sticky on the main sticky thing. Or does it appear there when they sticky. I am no sticky technologist. Will report.

[MildlyNarkyPuffin]

Excellent.

[RebeccaMumsnet]

Hi all,

Thanks for reporting this thread to us, we are doing some work with Refuge already but if you are not a knitter then this is amazing idea. We will sticky this thread in Women' rights and we have also found them on Facebook and Tweeter to help promote.

Best
MNHQ

[GreenBlueRed]

Can it be stickied in Active Convos too, not everyone looks in here.

[EdithWeston]

I doubt it'll be stickies in active convos.

Have you seen this thread? it is now in charities' noticeboard, but was in AIBU last night and, as you will see, it had a mixed reaction there.

[flippinada]

I posted on the other thread and spotted this one too.

I have some household goods I can donate to Glasgow WA which are pretty bulky - not sure how to get then through there as I don't drive and don't know anyone who could drive me through with stuff.

Any ideas...anybody know of someone who could do the drive?

[flippinada]

Good idea, I'll give them a ring. I did think about asking if they could do a pick up but thought that might be cheeky. I'll see what they say.

[AitchTwoOh]

brilliant. so much better than the sodding stupid christian shoebox dd's school wants us to do. i am sure i did this last year as well, in fact, it's not a new thing is it?

[KateMumsnet]

Hello everyone

Thanks v much for keeping the ball rolling on this - here's a lovely thank-you message we've had from Refuge:

"A huge thank you to all the Mumsnetters who have supported the Christmas List Appeal (www.johnlewisgiftlist.com, list number 478985). Over 400 gifts have been bought so far, many of those within the last week since Mumsnet started spreading the word. Your support will make a huge difference to women and children escaping domestic violence this Christmas. However, we?ve still got a long way to go to make sure everyone in our refuges has a present to open on Christmas day, so please share the link and list number far and wide with your friends and family!"

[ChristinedePizanne]

I have also emailed John Lewis to suggest that they mention the appeal on their gift list home page - no reply yet but I bet that would push up donations too :)