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MNHQ

MN Christmas Appeal 2013

362 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!

OP posts:
SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots · 01/10/2013 17:46

Oh I love doing this!
And crying at the thread after.

Tee2072 · 01/10/2013 18:24

Has this been stickied to Active? Because people were upset last year that they missed it as they have Christmas hidden like I do, Facebook brought me here.

Grin
RubberBullets · 01/10/2013 18:27

Yes good idea to sticky it in Active, maybe Chat too?

skyeskyeskye · 01/10/2013 18:59

lovely idea and happy to take part for another year.

I agree it should be stickied in as many places as possible as a lot of people didn't know about it last year.

RandallPinkFloyd · 01/10/2013 19:08

This couldn't be more perfectly timed Smile

Sparklingbrook · 01/10/2013 19:10

Can we nominate more than one?

FruOla · 01/10/2013 19:38

I'm glad to have found this Smile.

But a bit surprised it hasn't been 'stickied' somewhere.

And, yes, what Sparkling says, can we nominate more than one MNer?

Sparklingbrook · 01/10/2013 19:43

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.

FruOla · 01/10/2013 19:55

It would be a good idea if this was 'stickied' here, in Christmas.

Plus, duplicated and 'stickied' in AIBU and Chat.

Every single year, after the 'required date', people always say "if only I knew".

What do you think MNHQ?

timidviper · 01/10/2013 20:43

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

Jux · 01/10/2013 21:06

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

MollyBerry · 01/10/2013 21:25

[tchgrin]

littlemonkeychops · 01/10/2013 22:39

Oh yay! I missed the boat last year on this. Can't wait to join in the warm fuzzy-ness :-)

SauceForTheGander · 01/10/2013 22:41
Grin
supermariossister · 01/10/2013 22:48

nominated, she is a gem of a lady :)

HugAndRoll · 01/10/2013 22:59

I've nominated and volunteered. I love Christmas.

Solo · 01/10/2013 23:50

Already?!!! Shock

MNPlovesthesunshine · 02/10/2013 00:30

Donated

YoniMatopoeia · 02/10/2013 05:30

Solo - it kicks off in late September/early October most years. The organising of it is massive [twitches at memory]

Will donate once the laptop is fired up.

KatyPutTheCuttleOn · 02/10/2013 07:14

I've nominated two most wonderful people :) I do hope that they are picked. One has made a big difference to my life in ways that they don't know (and will probably never know) and the other is very supportive on various health related threads although we have rarely exchanged messages, I think she is a star.

Sparklingbrook · 02/10/2013 07:16

So how many nominations are allowed?

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.