******************Important thread - please read - EVERYONE********************

[soapbox]

OK!

I'm distressed reading about those of you who are worried sick about Christmas and having no money to buy things for your children!

Rather than sit of my ample backside and do nothing I have the following proposal to make.

Those of you who have old toys/gifts which are in good condition, or who are willing to buy a new gift for a child can register your contributions with me.

Those of you who are down on your uppers can send me your details - name, address, age and gender of children, what kind of things they like!

Those lovely MN who will send me Christmassy things will be matched up with those people who would like a bit of a hand with Christmas.

Those giving pressies will wrap the pressie and label it 'To XXX from Santa', and then send it to the address given to them.

If people receiving presents want to remain anonymous then I can ask people to send their contributions to me, and I will forward them onto the gift receiver, I will bear the postage cost of the onwards posting!

If people want to help, but have no toys etc to do so, then a small amount on a gift voucher for woolies, argos or the like can be sent instead!

Please post on this thread whether you think it is a winger - if we get at least 10 givers and 10 receivers then I will go ahead with it, and will post my email address to start the ball rolling!

Receivors must be regular MNetters, in case we are deluged from other sites

So it is over to you guys - good idea or not???

Dear lovely wonderful Mumsnetters...

I am a relativley new mumsnetter and only go on my Antenatal Thread and until I received and e-mail from Soapbox this morning I had no idea at all about this scheme that you are running. I really should venture out into the wider Mumsnet world!

I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face at your kindness and generosity. Whoever nominated me - what a lovely thought and it really is so nice to know that there are such caring people.

I however am a lucky person in other ways too and last night got a call from the lady who was my Farepak agent to tell me that she had received a letter from her bank. They had noticed that she was a Farepak customer who paid to them every month using her Visa Debit card (after collecting all our cash together) and as such is entitled to protection from Visa. I thought this only applied to Credit cards but apparently not so and we are due to have the money she paid out credited in full back to her account in the next 48 hours.

Obviously I am over the moon but feel for the rest of the people who have not been as fortunate as me.

This whole episode has taught me a great deal, my 86 year old grandmother and my dad gave us the money to cover the £300 I had STOLEN from me by Farepak and that made me so very angry but obviously very grateful that they could help me out. It has also taught me that there are wonderful genuine lovely people out there and I am proud to be a member of such a fantastic bunch of people.

And now I know that this is up and running I'd like to send something for those a little less fortunate than myself.

Thank you so much again - sorry it's long and waffley - I'm pregnant and very emotional!!!!

MIAMx

Soapbox, I have emailed you again as an "overlooked giver" - think my hotmail might not be working. Would you mind very much letting me know if you've got it or not. If not, I might have to send it from work on Tuesday.

Bronnie - got it and replied to you

Oh dear! Just when I thought I was getting over the tears another amazing email hits my inbox!

I can't share all the details but she will know who she is

A MNetter whose family is going through hell right now, has offered to make a whole lot of handmade gifts, which will take her hours and hours to do! Her generousity and thoughtfulness, is to me, what this is all about!

Threads like this, really do bring out the best in people - we really, really should do it more often

MIAM - that is incredibly fortnate! what a very honest women your farepak organiser is, this thread is so incredibly moving and yours is yet another story that tells me society really isn't so bad after all.

I am really loving seeing all these people who have been nominated without knowing, i think it is amazing that someone will get a lovely gift from someone they dont even know...simply for being a great person.

Okay - operation Mumsnet, needs a bit of practical help.

A kind MNetters husband is visiting the UK next week and wants to bring some gifts with him.

He needs to drop them off with someone in the following areas which he will be visiting:

MIDDLESEX, STEVENAGE, SWINDON, BRISTOL.

If you live in those areas and have some time to wrap and post on these items - then please send me an email on:

soapbox1964 at yahoo dot co dot uk

I will pay the cost of postage of the items - so you won't need to cover that!

soapbox this thread is too much for me to read but i have a Littlest Pet Shop (i think its the salon? i can check later) if thats ok

its never been opened

is that any good/use to you/anyone

argh im supposed to cat you arent i

will do after school run

x

hello soapy, have emailed you

Hi soapy
Thanks for the email - I've got it and sent one back - I'm in Bristol so might be able to help.

mind you it would help if I sent it to yahoo and not hotmail

soapy - have e-mailed you wrt the UK drop off & wrapping

soapbox I'm in west ealing, sort of bordering middlesex if that's any use. You've got my email addi as you replied to me yesterday but just emailing you again in a mo with heading 'i'm close to middx'

Hi soapbox, more than willing to donate present or vouchers - have e-mailed you

Just had to post to say that I am really overwhelmed that people have nominated me. I hadn't seen this thread so had no clue what it was all about until I finished reading soapbox's email.

I'd love to be able to send something in too, but have just passed a big bag of old toys onto a friend who's in a similar position to me.

Thanks again, you are all amazing.

soapy - is the DH flying in to Gatwick at all? if so i am literally 2 minutes away and could collect the items from him there?

I'm in Middlesex.

can't email as on the hoof out the door for the weekend and running so late it's not funny!

why am on here when I have so much to do LOL

that's addiction.

soapy you already have my postal addy

I'm on an MN break at the moment (hence the name) but I just had to pop back to say thank you so very, very much to whoever has nominated me. I'm very about it but very, very touched.

Fattymumma - no - think he is driving!

I've sent on all the possible drop off points to him and he'll choose the closest to his route!

Will let you all know when I hear back from him

Have emailed you Soapbox. Lovely idea

Soapy - I've not had a giver email.. Soryy if I'm hassling you.

Oops sorry Flamey - just sent it to you

Soapy my email is not working, I've been trying to send it since yesterday evening but I will keep trying and hopefully it will send soon.

I have been nominated, overwhelmed and warm and fuzzy inside

Got it ]

have just emailed you, soapbox