******************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???

Hi, I'm new, but hope not too late to join in with this fantastic idea...

bump

Well done Great Expectations too!

Hi soapy, Have sent u an email titled Donation.....Hope is acceptable

Just as well we're not going for the treehouse, that would have taken up an awful lot of wrapping paper!

Ive tried to keep up but this thread is just so long now I am sorry if Im repeating.

Just slightly concerned about the matching and how its going to be done. I imagine everyones offers of gifts/vouchers/whatever will all be greatly received but aren't they going to vary some what?

Obviously 'givers' will be giving' more or less than others, therefore some 'recievers' are going to receive less/more iyswim.

Im probably babbling and this has already been thought of. Anyone?? (Im trying not to email soapy as she must have enough to do)

I think the whole thing is that it is a gesture. Does monetary or amount have to come into at all? It is just a lovely idea and one that just needs to be taken at face value and not questioned too much IMO!!

Well said Floss.

As a reciever, right now ANYTHING is appreciated. Be it 4th hand toys or brand new GLTC stuff - i really cant be choosy.

I dont think itwill ever be a case of "i got a £50 voucher" vs "I got a 3rd hand pair of trousers!"

MN isnt like that. People who are recievers this year are in need of things to make their kids smile, kids dont understand the value, just the joy of opening.

Sorry, am all emotional now.

Hi

Could someone PLEASE tell me where I can buy vouchers for the big supermarkets - sains/tescos etc?

Thanks

madmarchhare - yes it is difficult. TBH that is what is consuming the majority of time in terms of matching people up. However, without giving too much away - I don't think anyone is going to be disappointed

Nevertheless, I am doing my utmost to be fair

agree with Jarm..as a reciever to I am super happy just at the idea of recieving anything as we need it. Whether it is 2nd/3rd/4th hand clothes etc or if it is homemade xmas card or biscuits..just ot know someone has thought about us is what matters.

I'll echo what JARM said. The fact that this is being done for us receivers at all is just beyond wonderful. I am not at all bothered about equality of monetary value and I'm sure none of the other receivers are either! I think you have enough on your plate soapbox without worrying about that issue too!

Dances - I'm not that you can get vouchers for the supermarkets, but thought it was worth re-mentioning this site that someone linked to much lower down the thread, as you can get vouchers for many other shops from there.

another receiver here who doesn't care what is given, just having something to give my babies on the day has made my xmas

everyone of the givers here has been outstandingly generous and given as much as they can afford to give this year, whether that is a brand new toy or third hand clothes doesn't come into the equation for me.

thank you again everyone, you can't imagine how much this means to us

I agree.Its lovely to think how many people care enough just to give.
Its such a special thing that MNers are doing for all the people who need a little help to make christmas a special day for the children.

dances you can get high street vouchers that can be used a quite a few different shops including iceland.

I think that anyone who has felt the need to nominate themselves would be moist gratefull of anything. and anyone who has been nominated anonymously would just be pleased to have been thought of....wouldn't they?

And i just had to say a huge Well done to GLTC and GE for their incredibly generouse offer, it really does show you that there are some great companies out there who aren't just in it for the profit.

but i was lol at the thought someone may have a suprise tree house arrive one morning

This is such a lovely idea would love to help. Only just found thread so hope I'm not too late! Also thought as someone mentioned that Christmas is not just about gifts that perhaps some threads could be started with ideas of free and cheap Christmassy things to do in diff. areas. Will start one on Glasgow

This is such a lovely idea would love to help. Only just found thread so hope I'm not too late!
Also thought as someone mentioned that Christmas is not just about gifts that perhaps some threads could be started with ideas of free and cheap Christmassy things to do in diff. areas. Will start one on Glasgow

Bump didn't want my psot to overtake this one!

Again, echoing what the others have said - as much as it pained me to do so, I was probably one of the first self nominators

I don't care what we recieve or how much - just anything ot make christmas easier, and my babies happy.

It really is the thought that counts .
As another embarassingly early self nominator, I'd be pretty thrilled to get a card and a second hand dress for dds.
I wouldn't be checking the financial value of things given, or trying to compare with other recievers.

I'm wandering through life with a silly smile and an urge to tell everyone I know how wonderful mumsnet (and soapbox) are at the moment.

Is the matching still going on? Because I haven't heard where to send my (modest ) offerings.. Not that I'm in any hurry Soapy.. just want to ensure they go somewhere as they make excellent stocking fillers

Yes still going on I'm afraid - took me all evening to do just the D's! Will get there in the end - deadline for matching isn't until 30 Nov - so there's hope yet