General Chat

Freezing cold here again tonight, and has been for the past 5 nights. Please don't forget them.

Very cold again last night Forecast looking pretty grim too

Linda :o)

I know this is old !!

BUT the homeless are still out there and there may well be more this year with the present money problems.

So if you can find a way to give even one gift locally it all adds up to help bring a little goodness in the coming months.

Kind regards To All Linda :o)

N

Nudging after last weeks poor weather here and the dark evenings too

Linda :o)

Many local authority hostels are not listed in the phone book. People whishing to donate items such as bedding, food , toiletries can take them to their town council offices to be passed on.

Well done Linda for nudging this worth while thread.
My collection of some "goodies" will be on their way again to a Hostel in Suffolk for the homeless which a lovely lady from these boards runs. I would just love to see their faces at Christmas time when they are given their presents.
There but For The Grace Of God go any of us.
Maisie

I work part time in a homeless family hostel.They are the lucky ones.Its the single men that are not so lucky.They have the shop doorways and dustbin cupboards.Its not always there fault either.After christmas our housing association is opening up a 43 bedroom hostel and i will be going full time support.What we usually ask for our hostels is pictures,dried flowers,vases and ornaments.Anything that make the communal areas homely.Annie

Grannie. That is a wonderful job that you do. Keep up the good work Maisie

Spending all my spare time knitting any wool I can lay my hands on.

Will send off as soon as I can get a decent parcel together.

Regards Linda :o)

Gentle nudge as some homeless have been our servicemen

Well, do you know I have wondered what to do with the "daft" Christmas gifts my sister gives me and OH - perfectly good pressies, dont get me wrong, but toys which have been opened and laughed at and then put in the cupboard never to be seen again. I now know who to donate these to and hopefully make a child very happy in a homeless hostel.

It brought rolling tears down my face reading the first page and the poor man who had a cup of tea on Christmas day - how shameful in this day and age people are living like this in the UK and where was his family and I wonder if he is still alive?

I do wish I had read this much earlier, as I have lots of wool to knit up scarves and little knitted toys - BUT will be more prepared for next year.

This is the most useful and best thread I have seen on here, a true humanitarian need thread.

How many of us will be throwing away platefuls of food as we have too much on our plate and stuffed ourselves with chocolates and the like. It makes me feel quite ashamed knowing that there are people not only in the world but the UK doing without. Suddenly Christmas has been deflated.

Tina x

Hi Tina
This is part of a message I recieved from another GR member:
I wrap up presents for the children from Santa such as books, colouring pencils, games, dolls (soft ones) cars for little boys and I get so much pleasure out of getting them friends bringing me what they have got and I just picture those little ones faces "That there is still a Father Christmas" even in Hostels bless their little hearts..... it would be lovely for you to make things for them as well as Shirley will share them out.. I do ask for the childrens names, ages, and sex and I label theirs from Father Christmas along with Christmas Cards for each of them.....
I hope that I have helped by explaining all this......

I'm sure if you were to pm Shirley she would let you know how best to pass on any gifts you want to donate, either local to yourself or through the centre she works at.

Hope this helps a little

I'm busy knitting at the moment for her.

Linda :o)

Tina, I am sure the things will still be needed through January and February so don't stop knitting, you can send things for after Christmas.

In Norwich we have an Open Christmas where people go and help to prepare and serve a Christmas dinner to anyone alone or homeless who go to this big hall on Christmas mornng. Some people who live alone and can't get there are picked up by volunteers and then after lunch and some company, they are given a food parcel to take home for the rest of Christmas time, and any goodies people have donated, including clothing for the homeless etc. Lots of shops donate the food and anyone can go, able bodied or not, to help or just participate, maybe just to chat to some one after lunch. It means the spirit of Christmas is still alive and helps those poor souls through what would be a cold, lonely, sad and hungry time for them.

Why not see if there is one in your area and send something to help out, sweets, fruit, tins of food for the parcels, anything to add a little cheer.

Lizx

Had a look on our Open Christmas site and they already have enough volunteers for most of the event, just need one extra chef. A lot of the food is cooked the day before at the local Catering college kitchens and then all finished off in the smaller kitchens at the hall.

Lizx

Nudging for Shirley Ann

AND to hopefully bring awareness to others

Linda :o)

Wow Linda well done for nudging this thread again and to see other people that have big hearts willing to help others
You can't keep a good thread down

I keep trying Val
I first added to this thread in November 2005 and can hardly believethis is the 4th Christmas we've been posting !!!!

And yes unfortunately the needs are still there, possibly more this year with all that is happening.

Linda :o)

So nice to see you all back on my old thread. I had such a wonderful response to my very first thread and it was good to see so many actually did do something .I thought about starting a new thread this year. but this old one came back.
Thank you all again for all you do .

Shirley Ann

nudge