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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

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Original poster

christmas appeal?

53 replies

jetcat · 09/08/2010 11:41

is there one this year? I bought loads of things in the sales that i put away for this year, but given that last years seemed so much hard work (bless you norma) i am not sure anyone would want to take it on?

OP posts:

SummerRain · 22/08/2010 19:01

I think this year alot more care needs to be taken in the matching, trying to match up families with doners willing to give to the whole family and individuals with donars able to give less.

I had asked to be matched with a family last year as I could afford it but was given just one girl... she had a brother and with the appeal going badly i boought for him as well just in case but it was so late at that point i didn't have time to get much for him and would have liked to treat the mother too. Especially as my original request had been a family.

HappyMummyOfOne · 22/08/2010 20:01

Perhaps we can have a standard email for senders and receivers where people just fill in the blanks. Cant remember if we had one last year or not.

Any other requests like summers would be great, mine was definately getting the details earlier, ages/gender etc.

cherrymonster · 22/08/2010 20:06

ok, well i am still waiting to hear back from mnhq. am happy to run the appeal, but will need help with collating the recipients and donors, and probably help with sending out the match details too. am happy to create a database with all the details on, so if any regular m'ners want to volunteer to help with collection of information, and/or sending out matches please feel free to post here. will probably need 2 or 3 people, who are very well known and have been here for quite some time.

SagacityNell · 22/08/2010 20:12

cm - you are eager to do this every year.(not a dig, just saying)

There are several people who have suggested that they would like to do the appeal. Some as a direct result of last years appeal going pear shaped. Maybe its best to wait a while before taking over in case there are others?

cherrymonster · 22/08/2010 20:15

actually sagacity, i volunteered in january to do the appeal this year, as i spent a lot of time finishing off last years appeal. i also volunteered my services to mnhq around the same time to do this years appeal, and have had several peoples backing since then

Hulababy · 22/08/2010 20:17

I agree, think it needs to be done much earlier to allow those organising it more time to get everything sorted.

I would hate for it not to be for the children though personally. I like the idea that it was intended for people to be able to pass on things their children have grown out of or no longer need to other children; childen who might not get much more because of various situations. I prefer that idea to the whole buying everything brand new personally - I don;t mean that to sound tight; I do generally add something new to my package as well, but I liked the way it started out with people donating things they had rather than it being about money and new items.

I do thing it is nice for the grown ups to recieve as well, but for me Chritmas is so much about the chldren.

cherrymonster · 22/08/2010 20:21

yes, it definitely needs to be for the children as well, they were the reason it was started in the first place. am hoping to get quite a few businesses to donate this year too, so if anyone has any ideas of companies who might donate, please post them here with as much details as you can

Hulababy · 22/08/2010 20:22

Also, when matching - maybe it doesn;t need to be one donor sending to everyone within a family. Why not match one donor to one child or one adult? And then if donors would like to send to more than one, they say so in their initial post.

This also helps with matching donors offering specific things with suitable recipients.

For example - if I had items suitable for a 6-8y girl, then I say so in my initial offer, along with anything else I could offer.

The ask receivers who is in their family from the outset, with genders and ages - of who they'd like to benefit.

cherrymonster · 22/08/2010 20:28

exactly like that hula

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 22/08/2010 20:35

Glad to see you on here CherryMonster. For the past couple of years I've seen you offer your services and get not much more apart from rude and curt comments from other posters in return.

I've got a suggestion. How about before emails start flying to and fro, there is a comprehensive and clear post on the thread that gives EVERYONE ALL of the information they need, whether they are nominating, giving or receiving.

I have nominated and donated previously and each time I've been a bit confused about the details I have needed to give . Which ends up creating more work for the organiser.

Ignore me if I'm poking my nose in where it isn't wanted.

cherrymonster · 22/08/2010 20:42

thanks moveit- i think thats an excellent idea. as soon as its time, i will see to sorting that out

JGBMum · 22/08/2010 20:43

I joined MN about November last year and although I saw threads re Christmas appeals, I never actually saw a thread that explained what it was, and if you joined, what was required of you - it may be that I was too late and missed that information. But I would second ILike ToMoveIts suggestion of a clear, comprehensive post outlining all the information needed to donate or receive.

cherrymonster · 22/08/2010 21:04

jgb- you cant second it, i already did that! but you can third it

cherrymonster · 22/08/2010 21:57

i have started compiling a list of businesses which i think might be able to help out, if anyone has any suggestions i would love to hear them

SummerRain · 22/08/2010 23:26

cherry, i've been on MN under various names since 2005. Am happy to help if/when required. I think i can receive CATS but can't send them so contact me if you want my help (can't post email addy as it has my full name)

TheFallenMadonna · 23/08/2010 00:33

Should we be approaching businesses and asking for stuff? I'm not at all sure about that TBH. Boden offered last year - they weren't approached.

HappyMummyOfOne · 23/08/2010 10:08

I'd be wary about the businesses to tbh, I think its ok to try and get a discount off a shipping company but would feel uneasy asking for donations from firms. If they offer as they are associated with MN then great but it doesnt feel right to actually ask them.

At the end of the day, all the people receiving are based around a website, whilst some may actually be known the bulk wont be. The appeal doesnt have charity status either.

As i've said before i'm happy to help, perhaps MNHQ can confirm who has offered to help (both from this thread and previously) and once we know numbers can work out how to split it in time to start in October.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 23/08/2010 10:23

I wouldn't be happy for businesses to be involved, I feel it changes the essence about what the appeal has been about. it has been about the generousity of virtual friends giving a little boost to those who need it.

It has never been (in my memory) about providing a huge flamboyant gesture. More about the spirit of Christmas rather than the whole commercialised version of Christmas.

Good luck to those who handle it! Would be good to hear from MNHQ about their perspective on the appeal, things being done in the name of the board and stuff gets into the press so it should be handled well!

StarlightMcKenzie · 23/08/2010 10:27

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Message withdrawn

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 23/08/2010 10:30

starlight, I wasn't a recipient last year but had had an awful 12 months, if I had recieved even the book and smelly candle it would have totally made my day, for me the idea that someone else had givien a shit that I had had a bad year would have reminded me of the fabulouse spirit of Christmas.

NOW that soundslike I am whinging about not being nominated I am NOT it is jsut what I really would have thought about your thoughtful gift!

FluffyCut · 23/08/2010 11:03

why starlight? what had others given? Your present sounds very nice.

StarlightMcKenzie · 23/08/2010 11:05

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Message withdrawn

FluffyCut · 23/08/2010 11:06

oooo can I sign up for one of those please?

StarlightMcKenzie · 23/08/2010 11:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

sorrento56 · 23/08/2010 12:00

I definitely think asking businesses is wrong. The whole point of the appeal is that people can pass on toys and clothes their children had finished with to bring a smile to a child who would not have got much or in some cases anything at all

There are lots of people on here who would find spending an extra £10 on someone hard to budget for and I think it ruins the spirit of the gesture if you are made to feel rubbish that you can't give more.

I remember at least two posts where people were thanking the sender for £100 gift cards and while that is lovely, a book/candle/packet of sweets can be just as appreciated.

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