MN Christmas Appeal 2013

[SandyMumsnet]

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!

I buy them and Amazon sends them. This is Amazon.ca though so might be different.

Thank you

First time donating to this and really don't want to screw it up!

Well done Sandy and Sandy's new computer. (Information now received here.)

Here too. Poor Sandy here's some

All received and ready to get started

I should have been ready to get started but my printer has just decided to run out of ink. (Clearly come out in sympathy with Sandy's one.) Looks like it will have to be tomorrow now.

Well done, Sandy! Have some and !
I'm off on a shopping trip, hurrah!

Thank you so much Sandy! I think you deserve a or a

Here too!!

With an address label no less!
Surpassed yourselves this time!

Sandy, you can do this job again next year :-))

checking name change...

Never done this before. I have sent my gift already - do I need to do anything else?

Very impressed by the pre-printed address label!

But could I confirm something previously mentioned up-thread (I think?). That if you send something to "the MNer of the House", especially via a 'signed for' service, the MNer might not be able to pick it up from the sorting office (or wherever) without ID - even if the ID gives the home address (assuming the MNer isn't home when it's delivered).

I thought that Royal Mail, specifically, have said that it's better to address it to The Occupier, as ID for the address would then be acceptable, even without a specific name?

That is my plan, anyway. To send via a 'signed for service' to 'The Occupier' and then stick the MNHQ generated label inside.

I think so, yes!

Will the recipients write on this thread when they get it or is there another tread for them?

I don't know, Xmas2013SantaA4142. If the recipients know the thread is here, then maybe they will post on here .... if not, who knows ... ?

FruOla the recipient will have to rearrange delivery rather than collect it in person.

I think there is normally a separate thank you thread.

Hi - am I too late to add my name to list to donate?

Haven't done this before - do you send goodwill messages with the gifts or not?

HorsePetal you can always do Refuge's Christmas list at John Lewis - list 564013.

Amelia, there was a huge debate about whether you put "To The Mumsnetter Of The House" or just "The Occupier" on your parcel/envelope; the debate is on this thread between the 4th Oct - 7th Oct, including two MNers who actually contacted Royal Mail about this - see up-thread.

I'm still of a mind to address mine to The Occupier and then double wrap, so the inner wrapping has the "To The MNer etc"!

For those who were asking, HERE is the official Thank You thread.

BlueChampagne. "Haven't done this before - do you send goodwill messages with the gifts or not?"

It's completely up to you what kind of goodwill message you enclose - or not.

I mean, if you're reluctant to send anything too personal (from you) you could just put a short note/card in with your gift saying 'Happy Christmas' - or whatever.

FruOla my last comment was really rubbish!

I remember that thread. The message from Royal Mail said that if the package said to the mumsnetter of the house but you are not home to receive it then you would need to rearrange the delivery. If you are at home you don't need to show proof of name.

I have picked up stuff before that was in my maiden name and i only had proof of address in my married name so i guess it just depends who serves you.