Christmas children in need charity presents - question

smilelols

Hi everyone
I already done a donation to operation child but have some brand new toys, and craft items that I wanted to donate to charity. I remember last year that some charities were organising collections from local shops etc, but I can't find any details about this (or something similar). I live in Sussex. Can anyone help me out with some suggestions, so these presents can go to a good home???
Thanks in advance
Smilelols

vikki_louise

Hello, Im not sure about local collections but www.postpals.co.uk has an elf scheme where gifts and craft items are sent to seriously ill children and their siblings in the UK at Christmas to make them smile or can be sent at any time during the year. The details will be posted on the news page on the site in the next couple of days

sweetnskint

i think thismorning (tv) usually do a christmas appeal. they will probably start it again soon.

brooke3

I think that kids company (kidsco.org.uk) take donations of toys and around Christmas they run a campaign for people to send in toys so that they can give them as Christmas gifts. At least they did last year and i can't see why they wouldn't this year.

scuzz

Depends on whereabouts in Sussex you are. If you're near Hailsham, Sovereign Radio will be running their annual Toy Run Appeal soon. Or you could try Mustard Seed Relief Missions or Living Life Eastbourne who both take presents out to kids in Eastern Europe

snowmoon

Would you be interested in donating toys, gifts art & craft items etc to 'Siblings United' Camps ?. We run holiday camps across the UK for children who have been separated in fostercare & adoption. Uniting brothers & sisters together for a week each year. We are a new project, ran by the charity 'Shaftesbury Young People' contact us at www.shaftesbury.org.uk, The Kids would appreciate gifts to give oneanother as presents . Hope to hear from you, snowmoon.:A

Ianna

Call up local radio stations and ask. IME radio stations often know.

You could also see about donating them to children living in refuges over xmas by calling the NDV helpline on 0808 2000 247

Sorry I can't be more help!

aberdour

Try calling Barnardo's 020 8550 8822. They have children's services all over the UK, and will prob be able to advise you of a service near you that might be able to use the presents.

foreign_correspondent

Barnados or NSPCC may be able to help - or local womens refuges - often the children in these are away from home and family, with a mum who may be depressed or anxious, and is likely to be short on cash so christmas can be a bit of a difficult time.

http://www.womensrefuge.org.uk/

http://www.womensrefuge.org.uk/http_docs/helpus/donation.htm?nbtn=6

I used to work in a childrens hospital and lead sorting out donations of toys - we always got inudated at christmas, cos people tend to think 'aah poorly children at christmas, how sad' - however, in reality very few children are in over christmas anyway, there are no planed ops, and anyone who can go home does - so on christmas day the only kids left in are the last minute emergencies, or the ones much too poorly to go home - who to be honest often are not up to enjoying presents, and who tend to get plently of gifts and attention from friends and family anyway...

I often used to feel a bit concerned that our 'poorly' kids, (often from families who were not struggling financially at all), almost got gift overload, whilst those in less 'heart string tugging' circumstances - such as the children living in hostels, or temporary accomodation, often got very little, and a present for them would have meant so much more...

Also sending gifts to hospital is a bit of a minefield as due to infection control and other issues many are sadly not suitable and end up being diverted to other charities anyway, often causing the hospital staff extra work!

(to be honest, if anyone does want to donate to a hospital, arts and crafts supplies, especially decent felt tips, drawing paper, coloured paper, pritt sticks, stickers, jewellery making kits etc are great as they can all be used safely in bed, are not too active, suit all abilities and ages and any left over can be used easily during the year for activities for children) Puzzle books are often quite popular too.