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!

[Armadale]

I have been on MN since 2011, but the first Christmas I didn't know about it, and last year I didn't understand how it all worked, (I must have missed the introductory thread) so this year I've been waiting

I knew immediately who I wanted to nominate, and I don't think I've ever had an actual conversation on a thread with this person, I've just admired their kind replies to people on a particular topic from afar- this is such a good idea to thank all the lovely posters like her who do it just because they are lovely, and huge thanks for organising it all MNHQ.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

Good grief already?

It's still 22 degrees here........

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I normally won't engage with Christmas until the beginning of November, but I will make an exception for this thread.

Love, love the Christmas appeal. Community spirit at it's best.

[StarlightMcKenzie]

I offered a black bin liner of good but used 3yr old girls clothes, and a black bin liner of good but used baby clothes last year as I couldn't afford much in the way of bought gifts.

I was matched with someone really lovely who said she needed exactly that.

I enjoyed ironing every single one of those items for the first time in their lives and adding a small token bought gift for the Mother.

It's really not about the money.

I also received a couple of gifts myself to put under the tree for my children at a time when money was really short. It included a small box of chocolates for me. Magic.

[notapizzaeater]

I've registered but could we not have a box for more than one child, I missed it last year but the year before I sent to a brother and sister and a mum in the same family.

[KatieScarlett2833]

How did I miss this? I've been here for years
Won't be missing it this year

[MrsManshape]

Donated and Nominated :)

[FruOla]

Nominated and donated too

[timidviper]

molding I remember some of that going on last year, sorry you had it at such a tough time.

[fanjodisfunction]

donated and nominated, this is my favourite bit of mumsnet (after woollyhugs) I was so shocked to received my wonderful secret santa last year, it really made a tough time seem brighter. I hope I can do the same to a deserving mumsnetter this year.

[SparkleSoiree]

Taking part this year for the first time - feeling christmassy now!

[ConfusedPixie]

Marking my place as I intend to donate again this year, I just don't know what yet! :) I loved doing it last year, I had great fun putting it together

[Solo]

YoniMatopoeia I know! I was just meaning that it's ^that time again ~ already!!!* :)

[Solo]

Oh! you know it was meant to be like this.
Easily !!

[blondieminx]

I love the MN Secret Santa sitting down with a large baileys hot choc to read the thank you thread and have a sniffle at it...It's such a lovely community to be a part of, and i'm proud to be a viper with you all!

mouseface what a lovely lovely post, you have made me well up already!

molding what a shame, so glad you haven't been put off! Hopefully this year you will have a much nicer experience with it all x

[SandyMumsnet]

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

[InkleWinkle]

Hasn't even started yet & Starlight's made me cry already!

[TeaMakesItAllPossible]

Nominated and signed up for a donation. I love the MN Christmas Appeal.

[scarlotti]

Hooray, finally I've found this in time to take part!! I was amazed and humbled to get something a few years back when I went through a really rough time. It really did brighten my year. I also struggled to thank one person as i had no number to message, so to those that this has happened to, please don't feel unappreciated.

Am so looking forward to paying this back this year. Can we be a donor even if we don't have anyone to nominate?

[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?

[THERhubarb]

molding sorry and Starlight, yes that is what I'm taking about! So pleased they were gratefully received. I often wish mine were still little as I always had loads of clothes and toys to give away then - no-one wants used teenager clothes!

[ifyourehoppyandyouknowit]

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!

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Rhubarb I remember that woman posting about not receiving all the parcels she was meant to. It made me wonder how on earth she got nominated in the first place because she was clearly a nasty, grasping person.

I think it is unfortunate that there have been one or two posters over the last couple of years who were extremely detailed and vocal about the huge amount of stuff they received, a lot of which was actually outside of the appeal because people fell for a sob story. That is bound to have a negative effect on some people's expectations.

[THERhubarb]

Alibaba - not just the recipients, a lot of posters are also very vocal about the huge parcels of expensive gifts they are giving. That just piles the pressure on other posters to do the same and its wrong. I don't think anyone should reveal what they are giving, if at all. That way no-one feels obliged to fit in with what the rest are doing.