Last Year the Greendale Christmas gift collection was a huge success thanks to everyone’s generosity
Following the success of our Christmas Appeal over the last two years, Greendale will be collecting for the homeless this year. We have spoken to the Salvation Army who are thrilled that we will be helping them and have sent this reply:
“I have just had the good news that you have chosen our Salvation Army meal-run to benefit from your Christmas collection this year, thank you so much. You will be helping the needy people who come each week to our Salvation Army canteen bus for hot meals, clothing etc. Top of the list is warm socks, gloves, scarves and hats all help to keep them warm during the cold nights. Sleeping bags are a luxury !
You are right when you suggest toiletries for them, they are so useful. Small deodorants are very helpful, toothbrush and paste, shampoo and a flannel. I have discovered that a small bar of chocolate or biscuit is a rare treat if you are living rough, if they have money they buy food, a bit of chocolate is lovely.
For most of them, everything they have is kept in a rucksack, so small items are so good for them.
Thank you again for helping us to help these poor folk enjoy Christmas this year.”
Last Christmas, through everyone’s kind generosity, Greendale managed to collect nearly 250 toys, and we are hoping everyone will be equally as generous this year. We are planning on making small packs up with a toothbrush, toothpaste, flannel, soap, shampoo, deodorant and razor in each one. We will also have a collection of the items listed above, and we would like to wrap up a little gift for each person marked “male/female”.
If gift wrapping is not your forte, Anna has very kindly offered to wrap any gifts, and even to go and buy items if money is donated. Although Christmas seems a long way off to some, we will require the items in early December. So, if everyone could start by adding one item each week to their shopping, it would be fantastic.
I am sure you will all agree, we take for granted our warm, happy homes at Christmas – not everyone is as fortunate, and we can all make a difference to their difficult time at Christmas.
Thank you