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MNHQ

MN Christmas Appeal 2013

31 replies

SandyMumsnet · 01/10/2013 10:35

Can you hear the faint tinkle of Santa's sleigh bells? Are you trying to remember where you stashed your fabulous reindeer jumper? [tchgrin]

Hurrah! That must mean Christmas is [ahem] just around the corner and the Mumsnet Christmas Appeal is gearing up for another year of festive generosity and merriment.

The MNers' heartfelt community spirit is being unleashed for the fourth year in-house. If you're new to the site or need to refresh you memory, please check out how this wonderful Secret Santa gift exchange came about. In short MNetters nominate a worthy recipient and also donate gifts to other MNetters in a HUGE anonymous Secret Santa.

And for those of you who like the sound of the whole thing and are keen to spread the Christmas cheer, here's how it all works.

So if you know of a MNer who could do with a bit of a boost, help towards making their Christmas more enjoyable, or is just particularly luffly, please go to our NOMINATION PAGE to tell us about them. You have until 15th October.

We'll then drop all the nominees a line to ask for their addresses, ages/sex of any DC along with any further family details they're happy to share. This information needs to be with us by 29th October.

If you'd like to add something special to a MNers' Christmas by donating a gift, thank you! Please go to our DONATION PAGE where you can tell us about the gift you'd like to pledge. We love vouchers because they're easier to match, but we'd be delighted with all sorts. Remember, nothing is too small. You have until 29th October.

By 22nd November we will be awash with Baileys The Christmas Spirit liquor, but will have matched up all the donations with the nominees and will send out a Secret Santa mail to the donators so all you lovely folk can get your parcels off 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.

Donators and nominees are given a code to quote if they want to say thank you to one another on the MN thank you thread following the gifts being sent out.

Any questions about the frankly terribly confusing process, please do ask, or take a look at our FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. [tchgrin] [tchgrin]

And so may MNHQ be the first to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

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MNHQ

ShamTech · 01/10/2013 10:59

TheJoyfulPuddlejumper yes you can nominate someone with one of their old nicknames.

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 01/10/2013 10:59

Opps, just fixing now Blush

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 01/10/2013 11:32

Links all fine and dandy now. [I love my job]

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 01/10/2013 12:12

@WaitMonkey

The question that springs to my mind, is how can we do the Christmas emotions ? Blush

You can't yet, we don't switch them on for a little while yet - they are making a secret guest appearance above [tchgrin]

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 01/10/2013 12:12

Cheeky Blush

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 01/10/2013 14:55

@WaitMonkey

RebeccaMumsnet, now that's just cruel, taunting us like that.Grin

What? [tchgrin]

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 01/10/2013 14:58

@BeerTricksPotter

It wouldn't let me use an old nn, but I found the current one used by the person I'd like to nominate.

Hi BTP,

We will take a look, thanks for flagging.

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 01/10/2013 15:14

@BeerTricksPotter

It wouldn't let me use an old nn, but I found the current one used by the person I'd like to nominate.

Can you try again BTP? This should be fixed...

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 01/10/2013 16:41

@BeerTricksPotter

Hi Rebecca, yes, it's letting me nominate under the poster's old name now Smile

Hurrah!

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 01/10/2013 17:19

@FairyJen

In our FAQ its days you cannot nominate someone who has been here less than a year but I don't know how long everyone has been here!

Will it let me know somehow if the person I want to nominate isn't eligible?

Please do nominate who you'd like and we'll very happily take a look.

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 02/10/2013 09:09

@Sparklingbrook

Can we nominate more than one?

Yes you can but we do ask that you consider very carefully as we don't want to end up with more nominations than donations. This hasn't happened as yet

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 02/10/2013 09:11

@Sparklingbrook

You know the Talk Round Up that gets emailed? Could it be included in that? I feel like we need a weekly MN Newsletter these days.

We have a weekly newsletter, called Parenting News, it comes out on a Thursday, you can sign up and catch up here

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 02/10/2013 09:13

@Jux

Stickied in Active too, or maybe stickied at the top of every board.

it's stickied in active, in latest and also in the newsletter. We will be sticking in Christmas and Site stuff too.
Please feel free to spread the word on the boards [tchgrin]

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 02/10/2013 09:40

@timidviper

This sounds like a really churlish question but I don't mean it to be.

Is there a way when donating of discriminating between those who need the help, have had a tough year, etc and those who have just been luffly? It is a lovely compliment to get a nomination but those lovely folk would probably be chuffed with any token gift.

For example. Suppose I had £50 to donate, I would happily donate that to someone who needs it but think, no matter how fluffy and lovely someone is, I would not necessarily want to give that to somebody who is comfortable, I would sooner give a token gift and donate the rest to the local food bank or something

yy timid, we ask for a reason for a nomination. As an example if a poster is nominated for being an all round good egg and giving fab advice we would try and match with someone who has offered a gift for the MNetter or a voucher. If someone is nominated for having a difficult time financially/ emotionally etc, we would try and treat them and their DC if possible.

It is a juggling act but we try and make sure that those in financial hardship get the food/gift vouchers first.

It is important to note that not everyone comes back to say thank you, we do encourage it but if you are going to donate we can't tell you who your gift went to or sometimes even if it has been received, so please do think carefully and do not give any more than you can afford to give freely.

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 02/10/2013 13:09

@moldingsunbeams

I know this might be cheeky but is it possible to ask to be matched with a proper regular poster?

I am keen to do this however last year I was matched with a not so regular poster and burnt, royal mail lost a couple of peoples packages, I didnt know they had not recieved it yet as it was still before Christmas and myself and another lady were attacked on the Christmas thread and called rich snobs stuck in our big houses who couldn't be arsed to bother and didnt give a damn about others or words along those lines by a lady who had only recieved from one of the three matches.
At the time I was living in a one bed flat with my child after being made homeless from a only slightly bigger flat and had only donated as I had recieved some vouchers/gift that my daughter couldnt use due to her sn. I would have sent another gift had I known it had not arrived.

I want to donate but I would much rather it go to someone who was a regular well known poster as it really put a downer on an already crap time.

Hi molding,

That is very sad to hear but generally speaking, very rare. We will note under this circumstance but we can't promise anything due to the anonymity involved.

Obviously, we can liaise where possible but we can't make any promises.

If you are in a position to donate, please don't let this bad experience put you off, but we can't really deal with matching on this level as it's a logistical nightmare - apologies.

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 02/10/2013 13:10

@Tee2072

I'm so glad you're not put off. Smile

We need hats. At least for this thread. [hgrin]

[tchgrin] arf

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 02/10/2013 13:56

@FairyJen

Shock rebeccamumsnet are you bullying posters? Wink

[tchshock]

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 03/10/2013 09:39

Thanks everyone, this is so lovely and we just couldn't do it without you lot.

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 03/10/2013 15:49

@THERhubarb

Sandy what are your plans for dealing with the Post Office? They are getting very strict about people picking up parcels from the sorting office, requiring photo ID and I know from previous years that some have been arsey with mumsnetters, not letting them collect parcels that were marked to 'A Mumsnetter' because they obviously didn't have ID in that name.

Moulding - it's funny but I just did a thread on people not being grateful, not that it was the point of your tale but I do feel that some people expect huge bundles of brand new stuff and hardly mention the small gifts that some of us may have made a real effort on. That woman you sent to really should have been grateful to have been nominated at all and receiving a parcel of goodies let alone abusing others.

When this was all first set up many posters would donate old toys and clothes but there does seem to be more pressure now to buy new things as that is what everyone else seems to be doing. I know a few posters who did donate second-hand items and didn't so much as receive an acknowledgement for them.

I think it needs to be reiterated that any gift, no matter how small is most welcome and that recipients should not expect to receive brand new gifts, but should welcome used toys and clothes too because they are all sent in kindness and with love. I'm sure there are many posters who can give something but may be put off because they don't think that what they have is good enough.

and moulding - I hope your situation is now better?

Hi THERhubarb,
Thanks for letting us know about The Post office.
We unfortunately don't have any control over The Post Office but we feel it's important that the Christmas Appeal remains anonymous. ID will provide proof of the address, so we hope this should be enough.

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 03/10/2013 15:52

@HopALongOn

Question: does it need to be 'gifty' things donated. I've got lots of lovely baby clothes (like, immaculate condition) that were barely worn and I wonder if someone who is struggling might like those? Sorry if this has been asked before, only skimmed thread as at work and should be, er, working!

We would be thrilled with all sorts. Baby clothes sound perfect, thank you!

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 03/10/2013 16:09

@THERhubarb

MNHQ as well as making sure the PO aren't arses again, is there any chance you can request that posters don't reveal what they are gifting please? I'm sure this would encourage more donators and would ease the pressure significantly.

No allusions to spenditure either or how big the box of goodies is. Some people can only give a little but their contribution should not be dismissed as it's just as valuable and they won't be the ones shouting about how much they've contributed.

Hi again THERhubarb,
You're right it's a shame if folk feel their gifts are not enough, as we are so grateful for all the donations that are pledged. It's such a heartfelt gift exchange so it would be in the spirit of the appeal if folk were discrete about how much they've given.

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 04/10/2013 10:41

@MrsDeVere

What do you mean you don't have any control over the Post Office? Shock
Blush
MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 04/10/2013 10:49

@SleepPleaseSleep

Sorry for being thick, say I'm abroad and would like to donate an online, amazon actually, gift voucher, do you send me a personal email address for a particular person when you've worked it all out? Or is there a central email address that can magically pass them on? Any way I can stay anonymous while doing so? If I have to send it to a particular person, I can't see a way for that. Or has anyone got any better suggestions for online gift vouchers accessible from abroad that can remain anonymous?

Hi SleepPleaseSleep
We email you a home address, and a MN code. Everyone stays completely anonymous.

MNHQ

SandyMumsnet · 04/10/2013 10:51

@Dontlookbehindyou

That's my nominations sent in, all very much deserving nice things for being lovely lovely people when I had a terrible time and was ridiculously poor. Still not 100% back on track but were paying the rent and everyone gets to eat at every mealtime! (Whoot lol) going to discuss with Dh what we can manage to donate. I'll figure something out! I can bake, would cookies work?

Oh yeah! Sounds great, thank you!

MNHQ

RebeccaMumsnet · 07/10/2013 13:40

@THERhubarb

I do feel that the MN Secret Santa Appeal is a very good thing and definitely in the spirit of Christmas but I do feel that sometimes it can also go a bit over the top - I guess that's bound to happen with something that has now become so huge.

I agree that everyone who receives something should acknowledge it and I did notice on the Thank You thread last year that so many gushed about the more expensive gifts and perhaps mentioned in passing a less expensive gift by someone else or not at all, this led to many donators having to post to ask if their gifts had been received and worrying about whether it had got there or not.

This is what I meant about people NOT posting details of what or how much they were donating as it raises expectations and puts other people off donating lesser gifts.

I also think it would help if the donator knew why that person had been nominated because if that person has been nominated for say, being a good brick, yet that person is not short of cash then they might not require lots more toys for their dcs, yet might be really appreciative of some chocs for themselves, as a way of Mumsnet showing its collective gratitude to a poster who always makes time for others.

I don't know how people are matched up, but it really would help if the donators had some idea of why that person was nominated so they can buy accordingly. Do you see what I mean?

And whilst some Mumsnetters may be in real need at Christmas (and so many are because of governmental cuts) people shouldn't forget local food banks and shelters too which cater for the very desperate people.

Christmas can be such a hard time for so many people, not just in terms of hardship but also in terms of loss or displacement and this is where Mumsnet really comes into its own as posters are nominated for a wide range of reasons.

But every nominee should be reminded that a simple thank you can go a long way and every donator should be reminded that discretion is everything and it's not about how much you can give and advertising that fact on the board, but about the spirit of the thing. So stay anonymous and hold that warm fuzzy feeling you get inside as your reward.

Hi all,

We start this in October as we manually match every single donation and nomination. It takes a long time. We do look at circumstance and we match accordingly. Sometimes we get it a bit wrong, but on the whole, we try and make it fair.

With regards to posting thanks, most people do - some don't.

A few years ago (some minor details changed to protect identities) we had two MNetters who were nominated. One who had been through a bereavement and another who had a very ill child. Neither of these MNetters posted to say thank you, we totally understood. The parent of the ill child spent Christmas and many months afterwards in hospital - the bereaved MNetter stopped posting.

There are circumstances where those in the worst positions cannot reply, we at HQ can look into it and make a judgement call at that time whether or not it is appropriate to ask them if they had received their gift. We didn't feel that was the case in these two circumstances.

We can't give you this info and from an internal POV, it can be frustrating. We can nod that it may not be possible for them to be in touch right now, but we can't confirm receipt. I will stress that this is not a regular occurrence. Please do mail us if you are concerned and we can take a look.

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