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

lovely thought.
Faerie mum and others - so you feel you have "failed" at Christmas! Do you mean spending on presents? If so, surely Christmas should be much more than spending money - so if you're giving your kids your time and having fun with them, what can be better? You haven't failed at all if you've done that!
I know it is easy to say but the best things for kids are often free, aren't they? family walks, cooking together etc.
Personally, bah humbug, I think we should all spend so much less on Christmas. It's become an orgy of spending.

I'm in too. Not sure what I may have at home to contribute, but will certainly do a gift voucher if I don't have anything suitable. Emailing now.

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i've e-mailed too got brand new books to give away

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i am about to go through the kids toys, anything in good condition enough to send as gifts, i'll msg you soapy.

emailed you soapbox

hi, sorry im being lazy, what can I do (giver)... is there an email? I dont have anything to actually give, but am more than happy to buy some things Is there a particular age? Sex?

sorry, found the email....

It's a good idea. Have you room for another contributor ?

rickman I've just spotted this thread and have skimmed the first few and last few posts. I'll come back to it later. I consider you as a regular, you know, even though I don't think we've ever "spoken" on MN and I'm not on it that much. Please don't exclude yourself from being a receiver.

I'd be more than happy to help, but only if rickman realises that she is a well-known MNer and stops being such a silly

i've e-mailed soapbox already but thought i'd fess up as a receiver here too. i'm another one that's failed spectacularly this year, dp and i have been clinging to the hope that he'd get work before then (fat chance, he's been looking for 1 1/2 years already) but it doesn't look like it'll happen, and even if it does we're so far behind on the rent with the landlord breathing down our necks that it wouldn't do much good.

thank you to all you kind generous people who've offered to give gifts. this thread made me cry several times today already. i'd almost forgotton there are truely kind and generous people in the world.

great idea will have a look through all the stocking fillers etc i hae bought as far to many for my dd and e mail tonight. Well done for doing this soapbox

I'll happily buy/contribute
I'll email you now with my details.

I also had a expression at rickman not being well known!!!

What a fab idea, I'm sure I've got tons of stuff. Will sort through for postable items tomorrow while dd is at nursery and then e-mail you Soapbox.

Count me in too. It would be lovely to help someone out. Have emailed too.

i'd like to contribute
have emailed you soap box

I would like to contribute too. What a truly great idea. this is really what Christmas should be all about. My Ds3 is 13 now so the toys would be for older children. Can immediately think of several action men, books etc in good condition. Will email soapbox.

This is such a wonderful idea. I really want to get involved as a contributor. I've only been posting for a couple of months though, so I hope that this doesn't mean I can't join in as I'm not regular enough.

I don't really have anything to pass on but I'm more than happy to buy something or give vouchers so that parents can buy the present and give it themselves. Vouchers for food are also not a problem.

I've emailed you at the 'joyce' address, soapbox - I really hope that I can get involved. This is exactly what Christmas is all about.

what a fab idea have emailed you!