LAST CHANCE! Closes today! MN Christmas appeal 2012 - Nominations and Donations thread

[RebeccaMumsnet]

We've all seen the mini chocolate snowmen in the shops and the cries for all Christmas-based threads to be moved out of AIBU to the Christmas topic - so that can only mean one thing! It's time for the MN Christmas Appeal.
Little bit of history for those who are new to the whole idea: in the past, Mumsnetters offered to donate gifts to other Mumsnetters in need over Christmas. And you also nominated Mumsnetters to receive these gifts. Each year, a particularly saintly Mumsnetter volunteered to match up the donors with the nominees and organise a mass posting of presents.

Two years ago, we felt the Appeal had grown so large that it was too much for one person to co-ordinate - so we moved it onto the MNHQ to-do list and this will be our third year.


Here's how it works.
You have until Monday 22 October to nominate a fellow MNetter who you think has gone over and above, offered you some lovely advice, might need a little help or someone who is generally an all round luffly person.

You can nominate here

You also have until Monday 22 October to pledge your donation for a fellow MNetter. Vouchers are easier to match but we have had all sorts in the past from Christmas trees to hampers and re-gifted items. Nothing is too small.

You can donate here

We then contact all of those nominated by the 29th October and ask them for their address and age/sex of their DC, this information will need to be back to us by Friday 9 November

Nominees and donors will then be matched and we will send those who donated, their matched nominees address by Friday 23 November so that gifts can be sent well before the final Christmas post. Parcels are addressed to the MNetter of the House (unless otherwise stated) to try to maintain anonymity.

This whole process is anonymous, we do not pass over RL or Talk names.

If you would like to get a gift for someone specific then it is better to arrange it with them directly. As much as we would love to facilitate all of your Christmas wishes, we simply don't have the brain power capacity

Donors and nominees are given a number to quote to say thank you to one another following the gifts being sent out.

Any questions about the frankly terribly confusing process, please do ask.

May we be the first to wish you a very Merry Christmas

[SomebodySaveMe]

That made my morning

Did the dog enjoy so much wanking?!

[Milliways]

If we put "voucher" can the type of voucher be chosen when we know who it is for? Or should we say Amazon/Boots/Laithwaites/Tesco/ELC or whatever?

[MainlyMaynie]

I filled in the form to donate, but I said I would choose a gift when I know the recipient. I've never done this before and just read the thread and think this isn't the right thing. Should I have decided what to give before I filled in the form?

[jetstar]

Donated :)

[GwendolineScaryLacey]

Thank you Lola. I have had the shittiest day ever and that produced my first smile of the day. I'm really glad I don't have a dog....

[RebeccaMumsnet]

@Milliways

If we put "voucher" can the type of voucher be chosen when we know who it is for? Or should we say Amazon/Boots/Laithwaites/Tesco/ELC or whatever?

Either way is fine Milliways, just 'voucher' or a specific voucher, it is up to you.

[RebeccaMumsnet]

@MainlyMaynie

I filled in the form to donate, but I said I would choose a gift when I know the recipient. I've never done this before and just read the thread and think this isn't the right thing. Should I have decided what to give before I filled in the form?

Again, this is fine. Some people liked to be matched with families with similar age children so they know what sot of thing to get but others are happy to wait and see.

[Binfullofmaggotsonthe45]

Right, I have filled out the donate form, I don't have anyone specific to nominate, as these days I dip in and out a lot. I'm happy for the MN nominated consensus, so to speak.

So do I just sit tight and wait for instruction?

I didn't do this ly, found out too late, as had quite a lot to deal with in the latter part of the year, and read the thank you thread with much regret.

Could someone give me a guide for the best kind of vouchers to buy? I'm doing this from outside the UK, so was thinking Argos or such, as they always seem to have deals on toys this time of year, does that sound like a plan?

Hope I've done it right x

[ShiverMeWhiskers]

So glad that I found this finally! I have been checking the Discussions of the day/most active for a few days with no luck so eventually went searching.....hooray!
I had a really crappy year last year and it made me feel so lovely to be able to donate to a mystery somebody so will very gladly do it again this year!

.....trundles off feeling all warm and fuzzy.......

[MrsWembley]

Donating form done!

Have a nominee in mind but I can't remember her exact name...

[BigBroomstickBIWI]

BIWI. That's spelt B-I-W-I.

HTH

[Fillybuster]

Done. I'd like to do several this year please - hopefully my form was clear but please let me know if you need me to explain anything :)

This remains my all time favouritest ever ever ever corners of the whole world wide interwebnet

[JustGettingByMum]

Donating form completed.

[FairyPenguin]

I'm not on MN as much as others, and lurk more than I post, but I found last year's thread so amazing that I had to donate this year. Feeling all warm and fluffy inside.

[LoganMummy]

FairyPenguin - exactly the same here!

[MrsWembley]

I've just told DP about doing this last year. Never told him at the time as he's always a bit 'you don't know who you're giving to and half of it's wasted on bribes before it gets there' about lots of charities and I figured something like this he'd be even more . RNLI and Lifeboats, that's his two and if he can help anyone out personally he's right there, but organised...? strangers...? taking things on trust...?

I have totally undervalued and underestimated him. He asked what I spent last year and told me to multiply it by 2.5... Now I'm crying at how much I love him...

[MrsVamoOOOOOs]

That's lovely, MrsWembley.

I used to be known as MrsWembley on another forum. Good name !

[thegreylady]

I was so touched to be nominated last year and loved my gifts :-)
I would really like to donate this year. Mums net has done so much for me I'd like to give something back.

[MrsWembley]

Cheers, MrsV

[strictlycaballine]

Forms complete - marking my place

Thanks Mumsnet Towers!

[TheHappyCamper]

I was a lucky recipient last year and I still have absolutely no idea who nominated me or why (although I guess that's why it's called secret santa!).

So this year I have offered to donate as the gifts sent to my dd were lovely and she still plays with them all . I hope I can make someone else's dc happy this year.

[TheMonster]

Now I feel all festive. I love MN.

[BelinaTheChicken]

Yay, warm Christmassy glow!

[BelinaTheChicken]

Does the gift have to be new? I have some toys in excellent condition, can only tell they aren't new as they have no box. Would this be ok?

[BlameItOnTheCuervForHumanBlood]

I have a question, can we nominate non-troll banned mners in recognition of all their good advice, support and friendship over the years, and because they are having a time of it? Esp since you hope that hq will relent when she's done her time and let her back?