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

Count me in I have some M & S vouchers I can send

Message withdrawn

great idea. emailed you soapbox.

Soapbox
You are a lovely person. I'm in! Will have a think. Can give lots of books if that helps? Adult and children's?

Oh and I have Tesco vouchers to offer too.

fab idea will email you!

done and bump

Message withdrawn

I will have a root out stuff, should have something, prob girls 3-7 ish won't be anything much just stocking fillers though

Nice one Soapbox.

I have loads of new stuff in unopened boxes that I'll gladly post on, regardless of the postage costs. I'll prepare a list and email you later in the week.

Another bump... Soapbox1964 at yahoo dot co dot uk

occured tome today that adding in some wrap paperand ribbons etc going spare might also be good, as these are so very expensive

to me, even

just said to dh 'oh god, i think i shoudl do this'

his reply. you HAVE TO DO THIS. and i really like that woman that first posted (that'll be you soapy).

so i'm in...whatdoido?

Email soapy and she'll email you back, probably tomorrow.

Soapbox - keep having my emails bounced back to me. Will keep trying but if you get the chance, my email is em dot wright @ media80 dot net

Happy to donate / buy a gift on someone's behalf etc

What a fantastic, wonderful idea

Soapbox, you are a wonderful person!!!

i have emialed now.

bump!

Well this is proving to be very humbling really!

I have already had a stonking 140 emails - in one day! It really is amazing and between all of us - givers and receivers - we are going to put some smiles on faces on Christmas morning, we really are

Because there are a lot of emails to get through, I am going to email out to those who wish to receive first of all, to get fuller details of what they might want.

Once I have dealt with those, I will email those that wish to give - so if you don't hear back from me straight away, don't panic

A little plea from me though

Since I open my emails at work, can I ask those of you who wish to receive some christmas cheer not to feel you have to justify that in any way! Lets just say there were a few moments today at work, when I had to shut the door of my office, grab some tissues and have a good old howl! But mascara face is not a good look IYKWIM

Keep those emails coming - soapbox1964 at yahoo dot co dot uk

Soapy, you're bloody lovely, you know that?

I haven't got anything I can send, but I could probably get an extra present for a child who's of an age where they're more interested in the paper...!

Emmylou - have emailed you

You know, I have a Boots Advantage card from 2004, I just checked and it's got £5 of points on it, could I convert that to a voucher? If so then I'd like to donate that. I know it's not much, but it's something I didn't know I had before so I might as well give it to someone who would make use of it.