If you've donated to refuge or foodbank

[Littlejamtart]

Then thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Being in refuge this time of year, with not a lot of money is difficult. I've struggled to buy food, but the food donations we receive help massively, they are currently feeding me and my children, I'm not sure what we would be eating otherwise. And toiletries, this week I got down to the very last of my shampoo, which I had already watered down. And to get given shampoo, baby wash, shower gel, toothpaste, it really really made me feel like I could wash me and my children, and I wasn't worrying anymore.

And back to Christmas, if it wasn't for the extremely generous donations of toys, my children would not be receiving much this christmas, as it is, they have a bag of toys each. And me, for the first time in years, I have a whole gift bag of presents which i can't wait to open.

I'm not usually a christmas person, but this year, I'm excited, and it's all because of the lovely generous people who give. And of course, fantastic refuge staff.

So thank you everyone, and merry Christmas.

P.s this isn't a beg for things thread, I'm absolutely fine now after these donations

We do this.

To you and your family, have a wonderful Christmas 🎅🙂

Rarely give as can't really afford to, but when I do, I make a point of putting hair conditioner in. I've a fuzz of a head of hair and when I myself needed a food bank, they had shampoo only.

I'm glad that you're fed at least. I just hope you have a secure roof over your head.

I hope your little children have a lovely Christmas. And you too, although I think as mothers, we don't give a crap once the children are happy.

Anyway, Merry Christmas.

A very Merry Christmas OP, to You and your Kin, so I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Onwards and upwards, eh?

I donate to the foodbank. This year i gave esp for Christmas,toys selection boxes and advent calendars.
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I’m glad to hear that you’ve managed to get what you need for surviving through Christmas for you and your family OP.

I bought about £25 worth of food bank donations for my local area today, including nappies and toiletries etching . So hoping it will make a small difference to someone’s Christmas.

What a lovely post I hope you have a truly happy Christmas

❤️ I donated to refuge instead of work secret Santa (we all agreed this instead of buying tat)
I am so happy that you have some useful and lovely things. You deserve it.

I'm really happy for you op. Merry Christmas to you and your children.

I donated to refuge instead of work secret Santa (we all agreed this instead of buying tat)

That's a great idea.

OP - thank for your post.

It's lovely to know that by giving, I can make a difference. I wish you and your DC a happy Christmas and New Year

Merry Christmas op

You sound like a lovely person

We did this through work, we wrapped shoe boxes and filled them with goodies, i put nice shampoo and conditioner in mine with other toiletries and sweet treats

Its lovely to hear that these little things make such a difference to someone who is experiencing a difficult time in their life

Merry Christmas OP

Aw that’s made me tear up. I donate when I can and buy presents and to find out it actually does make a difference is amazing. I wish you are your babies a happy Christmas and hope in 2020 you will be back on your feet.

Can I ask how you donate?

I’ve had a pretty rotten month financially and have been helped out by a kind friend, I’d like to pay it forward when I can afford to.

@HarrietThePi we did a secret Santa with Christmas cards instead, in which we wrote a positive message about the recipient and a wish for 2020. It was lovely! A couple of people teared up.
we are a bunch of lentil weaving social workers who do stuff like this a lot

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat you can donate through the refuge website or trussell trust

Lots of us have toys to donate at this time of year to make way for new toys. I take my sons to a local toybank rather than a charity shop, they distribute the toys to local foodbanks, refuges and those living in temporary housing.

After watching the ITV documentary on food banks recently it really hit home. This year I’ve sent online Christmas cards/messages and instead I have donated the money I would usually spend on cards and stamps to the Trussell Trust. No one really needs cards anyway and they’re not particularly environmentally friendly either. I felt this was a much better use of my money. In addition, I showed my year 10 classes the documentary too (as part of a unit on urban deprivation). They were really shocked - school is in an affluent area (think school trips for £2000 and £500 trainers) and I think it’s good for them to be aware of what’s going on in our world. Many of them have said they will donate too - I really hope they do.

Merry Christmas OP

Here’s hoping 2020 is your year

That's wonderful. I have a £30 direct debit to ours each month. I put bits in from the supermarket too never thought to add shampoo and conditioner I will from now!

Merry Christmas OP ❤️

Our local food bank was really short of donations this year for teenage boys (smellies, socks, boxers) so we dropped some stuff off earlier today, I took DS 16 along with me.

Can I ask what kind of facilities you've got for cooking please? I did a food bank donation last week but I wondered whether microwave stuff is better than things like pasta/rice that might need a gas hob for cooking?

I hope that life will just get easier and better for you and your children. I found your post very moving - so glad the donations have made such a difference for you. :)

I live abroad where there are no foodbanks but we participate in a programme where we put together a bag of presents for a refugee living in a refugee center. The charity just gives us their gender and age and we drop the bags off and they are handed over at a Christmas party.

The kids get very excited about giving and bringing some joy to people suffering. Reading your post I am going to look into seeing if there is a similar scheme for a women’s refuge. I managed to leave an abusive marriage and know how hard that is.

I donate monthly to refuge. I’m in tears reading your story, you’re the reason I do this.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that 2020 goes well for youX

I work alongside a lovely bunch of social workers. We've gathered up at least 30 sacks of presents for their clients who they know won't get from other charities etc. Will try to donate more throughout the year next year.

My work colleagues, family and I donate to a toybank this time of year (don't do cards or secret santa etc at work) so that people who really do appreciate it get a lovely Christmas. I'm sorry youre in the situation but glad you and the children will have a lovely Christmas