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

Merry Christmas OP! Here’s to a fab 2020!

In our village this year I suggested we do “advent windows” with different houses designing a window to light up each day & keep lit & alongside this arrange a foodbank collection box near our popular pub & did a leaflet drop to encourage ppl to come out to see the windows, bring their kids, have a chat walk around & to donate to the foodbank which a group of us would take each week to our local town. Since Dec1st we’ve got over 700 items so far with our pub getting involved too to add items & the private nursery kids bringing donations too & walking around to see the windows & donate during the day. It’s been fab for our small community & we are so pleased it helps others...we hope to get to 1000 items by the last collection day on Monday!
Have a great time

I often donate feminine hygiene products among other things.

Months ago I tried joining local charities to help over the festive season and realised its MUCH harder than I expected. Some places wanted a minimum of a 6mth commitment, food hygiene certificates, DBS, full CV and to pass an interview or only took those with special skills like hair dressing. I can understand the above, but if felt like I needed to jump through hoops to help, and even then, some places had a long waiting list!

It's really nice to hear from someone who has received We are comfortable now (received a modest Inheritance) , a while back a big bill would have been a nightmare for us. I remember hearing that most people are only 3 pay checks away from significant financial struggle. We certainly could have been. I give whenever I can.

I hope the New Year brings positive change for you Littlejamtart.

So pleased you've been able to benefit, it's lovely to hear. We've done present donations, food bank, crisis and centre point as part of our Christmas.

I truly hope you have a fantastic Christmas and wishing you a better new year!

Our work does the Christmas boxes for refuges in my county. I always pick an older teen boy. I hope on Christmas morning that a 16 year old somewhere will smile and enjoy his gifts (and he likes Pass the Pigs among other things).

Our school organised a collection on last day of term, I donated bag of food and toiletries and snuck in some chocs for the kids. School said the food bank was 'overwhelmed' by the donations. I wish it wasn't necessary though. We live in pretty desperate times and it makes me feel thankful for what I have every single day.

What a lovely message to us all OP - thanks a million. Have a good one

Merry Christmas op

We donate to the food bank and recently we donated a load of furniture from my late mothers house to a refuge group. It’s so important people give and support these charities.

A very happy Christmas to you and your bambino’s.

I have given both toys and food to the food bank this Christmas. My mum works in a foodbank and has happy stories to telll.

I hope your day is warm, happy and filled with laughter x

Hey, I love this
I did a huge box of stuff for the women's refuge incl fancy bits for the women and children who have nothing
I love to know it makes a difference, when you feel so desperate

Merry Christmas xxx

What a lovely post! Hope you have a lovely Christmas this year and that by next you’ll be settled in your own home

OP, I hope you and your children have a wonderful Christmas. I'm so glad to hear that you are looking forward to it. I haven't donated so far but now I've read your thread, I will take DS out tomorrow and do so. I've spent today being rather grumpy and you've reminded me of what really matters at Christmas. Thank you

I'm sure everyone would agree that you are very welcome indeed. Merry Christmas x

Have you been in a women's refuge? What did you want as a comfort? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/3730748-have-you-been-in-a-women-s-refuge-what-did-you-want-as-a-comfort

This is the thread I started and look at all the women inspired to help on here zzz

I’m so pleased you’ve got a lovely Christmas lined up. Hope 2020 is a good year for you and your kids

Merry Christmas OP!
I donate items via bins in Morrison’s and have a monthly dd to the Trussell Trust. I always donate non-dairy milk and conditioner too, also san pro, and toys, hats, scarves via the Christmas appeal at DD’s school.,

8 years ago we very nearly needed a food bank, I will never forget that winter.

I am a member of SW and suggested to our group leader that we donate things we shouldn’t eat to our local food bank. We managed to donate between her 5 groups 112kilos of food and toiletries.

It is amazing what can be done if lots of people give a little.

Most supermarkets round here have a foodbank box you can pop stuff in if anyone is looking.

I shop at Tesco and normally around November the Trussell Trust come and have a big donation drive. I always try and get 'fun' stuff, like biscuits and selection boxes in the hope that it might brighten someones Christmas just a little.

I'm so pleased that you have been able to access support when you most need it, hopefully you'll soon be back on your feet.

I do my shopping online, but try to remember to pop something useful and something a little bit frivolous into the collecting boxes whenever I'm in a supermarket. Food banks are in need 52 weeks of the year, so I'm going to set up a DD to the Trussell Trust.

I've put into food banks and other this year. Your post has just inspired to me make a Christmas donation to Refuge. Hope 2020 is a better year for you.

Thanks everyone, the donations are massively appreciated by everyone in here, it helps us all and we cant believe how generous people are.

The fact that we know whatever else happens, we can feed our children, we can clothe them (theres donations of clothing here too) it just takes away so much unknown, and a lot of guilt that you're taking your child away with nothing.

The furniture goes to really good use, ladies who come in here with nothing, get a house of their own and suddenly have nothing to put in it. Furniture donations means they have a sofa to sit on. Otherwise they really wouldnt.

For who asked, there is shared kitchens here, with an oven (shared with one or 2 others), microwave, kettle, toaster, your own fridge and a shared freezer.

In the food donations yesterday was a colouring book and pencils, and my little girl has been holding them all day and colouring, she loves them so much.

Sanitary products! Thank you again, my ex used to withhold them from me, or make me bargain for them, so to be somewhere theres always San pro available is amazing for me. It's another worry I dont have anymore.

It's also just knowing someone thought of someone like me, and wanted to help. Knowing I'm not so alone in the world helps massively, on those awful long nights when I cant sleep, or a particularly bad day. We often say in here how grateful we are.

As a business we send regular large donations to the food bank and I donate to the Refuge where I can as they helped my Mum through a very rough time.

Have a lovely Christmas xxx

I’m so glad you’re in a better place.

Our food bank hands out wish lists in the entrance to the supermarket, my DD takes charge of what we are buying

I was standing next to a couple of ladies the other day who were buying sanitary towels, I’m guessing by the conversation they were having, were for our local women’s aid. The older lady said to the younger - don’t you buy any of the cheap stuff they’ve had a hard enough time they at least deserve Bodyform! It made me smile...

I've just read another post about what to donate to a food bank and one poster wrote that they don't want luxury items, just basics. I felt a bit worried, because I donated some selection packs for dcs. Reading your post OP made me think it was okay.
I'm glad you are now safe op.

I usually put a treat in the collection bins whenever I do the shopping, biscuits, chocolate, tea.

Never thought of shampoo, or sanitary items. Will do that next time.