Ways to give back at Christmas

[Suggestions2021]

Hi Christmas elves,

As I get older I am feel more and more of a need to give back, especially at Christmas time. I am looking at ways I can donate my time from home, but does anyone have any suggestions of things I can do? We usually do gift boxes for homeless people, food bank donations and also give gifts to all our neighbours. What does others do? I have spent some time this evening researching charity gifts (these would just be from us, not given as gifts) but a little unsure.

Thank you.

Morning all, sorry for the repost but posting originally late at night.

We do:

giving gifts to the small animal rescue charity we got our rabbits from, they have an Amazon wish list and I choose from there.

Normally the Met Police did a appeal or our local. shopping mall where you have a child's. gender and age. and buy a gift.

Foodbank gets extra donations

We give to the food bank. On Christmas day help at a local Charity cooking and serving Christmas dinner. Last year because of Covid we delivered Christmas dinners as charity obviously could not host it. I think whatever anybody does for charity is always gratefully received. Xx

I take boxes of biscuits and chocolates to the local ambulance and fire stations.

Thank you, these are all fab. We actually have a fire station about 5 minutes walk away so that's something we could easily do.

I used to collect fleece blankets, treats and toys and take them to my local animal rescue a few weeks before Christmas.

I know MN isn't a big fan, but I do a couple of charity shoeboxes ( the ones you fill with toys).
My children are tweens, so at an age where they get lots of small toys etc, so They are pretty easy to fill.

I also donate a bag of toys to a Christmas toy appeal. I pick up toys and gifts throughout the year.

We do an advent box every year - wrap a cardboard box with wrapping paper and drop it at the Samaritans who run a winter shelter.
We fill it with food as well as gloves, hats, socks, scarves.

We also do a toy/gift box for the local women's refuge.

You could contact your local Social Services or Homestart and see if there are any children in need you could buy for? Or if it’s time that you have, perhaps you could organise a toy/gift collection? We have a Christmas party for local children in care and a local Travel agent has always run a toy drive to provide gifts - people often want to donate but it does need organising g.

I'm giving blood on New Year's Eve.

Amazon wishlist for our local animal shelter

I also sponsor a cat every Christmas and my gift to my DB (at his request) is a monthly donation to the guide dogs charity.

My friend has a lovely tradition where she drops off advent calendars for the local children's ward. I worked on that paeds unit and never knew she was one of the people who donated them. I would check they're not overrun beforehand but they weren't to my knowledge!

If you have a local HomeStart, they will probably accept donations of food and new toys. Also, at least at the one where I volunteer, something for the mum, such as a toiletries set.
My local animal shelter has a wish list at Amazon, so can buy something off that. They also ask for used stamps which they sell, so you could collect these off Christmas cards and donate to someone who can use them.
Make fat balls for the birds in your garden, or buy ready made!

It looks like I the Salvation Army have a toy scheme. I don't have children to buy for normally so will have a think about what type of thing to get!

Been out this morning and got some nice looking biccies for the fire station