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!

[Sparklingbrook]

Sorry RebeccaMNHQ. I think I had a mad week of deleting topics and saying no receiving stuff. 'Parenting news' doesn't sound very exciting.

[Tee2072]

It's riveting Sparkling. Truly.

[Sparklingbrook]

It needs a more attention grabbing title IMO Tee. Not all people on here are parents either. Mumsnet Weekly News would be better.

I have signed up for it and wait with interest.....

[Tee2072]

That's a good point, Sparkling.

[Sparklingbrook]

Or it could be Mumsnet! in the style of Hello!.

[Tee2072]

How about Daily Mumsnet? We could take back the meaning of DM in the publishing world.

[Mogz]

Yay, its my first Christmas here, just nominated someone and I'm so excited about it!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Morning and oh love the Christmas Appeal.


Sparkling, you'll not regret signing up for the newsletter, tis an absolute highlight

[missorinoco]

Do you need to know how much we will donate? And if so do you want me to PM someone as I have already signed up.

[Tee2072]

That's horrible molding. So not what this is about!

[Tee2072]

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

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

[Tee2072]

Damn.

[RebeccaMumsnet]

@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.

[RebeccaMumsnet]

@Tee2072

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

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

[tchgrin] arf

[Tee2072]

Mean, Rebecca. Really really mean. [pout]

[SpiritOfTheBuskersCat]

This is my first doing this. Wasn't aware of the appeal previously. I think it's a brilliant idea

[sgrin]

[FairyJen]

rebeccamumsnet are you bullying posters?

[RebeccaMumsnet]

@FairyJen

rebeccamumsnet are you bullying posters?

[tchshock]

[Tee2072]

She's not bullying me. She's just showing off!

[Tee2072]

Bugger.

[Mouseface]

Last year I received some lovely treats because I was nominated, this year, I am Paying. It. Forward. and have nominated some well deserving MNers. :)

Some who have lost their loved ones (some again) , some who have helped me personally, some who have inspired me to make a real difference to help others, and some who I simply luff

Thank you MNHQ xxx

And, just so you know, if I could, I'd nominate each and everyone of you there at MNHQ, who work so hard both on the frontline and behind the scenes, all year round, all day long.

MN has literally saved my life in days gone by, and without it, and the people who post here (some have now become my real friends), I know that my own, my family's and my wonderful son's - Nemo - lives, would be far from what they are today :) xxx

[Haribojoe]

So excited to see this thread, one of my most favourite parts of Christmas.

Am so moved every year by the huge kindness shown to those in need/who are deserving.