Christmas is a truly ‘magical’ time for children but as my two have got older I have been keen to remind them that the festive period it as much a time for giving as it is receiving, encouraging them to think of others that maybe not as fortunate. There are many ways you can get the children involved in helping others this Christmas, we have included a few ideas below.
The reverse Advent calendar
Alongside opening traditional Advent calendars, put aside a box and on each day of December add an item to the box. You can do it for various causes and charities including Leeds Baby Bank, the Leeds South & East Foodbank or you might want to use it as an opportunity to sort through toys before Santa arrives and donate to your local Children’s Centre or charity shop.
The Leeds South and East Foodbank are part of the #foodbankadvent campaign, more details of the campaign and where to drop your boxes can be found here. There’s also a list of things they currently need urgently, and things they have enough stock of.
Ideas of what to put in your Foodbank parcel could include: (ring pull cans if possible)
Non-food items are also welcome:
It’s always wise to visit an organisations website or Facebook page first where you’ll find lots of information on the types of donations they can and can’t accept for Health & Safety reasons.
Leeds Children’s Charity Christmas Gift Appeal – Lineham Farm
Help put a smile on a child’s face this Christmas by supporting our Christmas Gift Appeal on 12th December. We’d love to you to come and visit Lineham Farm to drop off a gift under our tree, meet some of our animals, visit the wonderful grounds, and enjoy a winter stroll through our woodlands.
Leeds Children’s Charity at Lineham Farm is dedicated to brightening children’s lives. We work with the most challenged and disadvantaged children in the city, offering them respite from difficult, and sometimes abusive, home lives. A break at Lineham Farm is filled with adventure, fun and learning in a safe and happy environment – it’s childhood as it should be!
For some of the families we support, Christmas can be low down in priority due to finances and other difficulties, but it is very high when wanting to put a smile on a child’s face and hope in the heart. For those who can help, we’d love you to donate a gift to our appeal, to help those who may not be so fortunate to receive any toys this year.
Please note visiting times are from 10am-12pm. Unfortunately, we cannot accept visits outside of these times. New gifts only please.
To book your visit, please book HERE: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-gift-appeal-at-lineham-farm-tickets-217638642037
Event Information:
• If you’d like to wrap your gift, please may you label it gender and age specific.
• Although we mostly support children from 7-11yrs, we can accept gifts for all ages from toddlers to teenage years.
• To minimise the number of packages please could we request one main gift for each child rather than several small ones and unfortunately, we are unable to accept shoebox gift packs.
• The centre is used by children daily so regrettably we do not allow dogs on site.
Cash for Kids Mission Christmas
With 1 in 4 children across the UK living in poverty this December*, for many families Christmas is simply a luxury they can’t afford. And sadly some children in Leeds and West Yorkshire will go without a present full stop.
Which is why, every year the Cash For Kids ‘Mission Christmas’ appeal invites people to buy one extra gift alongside their Christmas shopping, that can be given to a disadvantaged local child to make their Christmas morning special.
Radio Aire need as many people as possible to take part, to make this the best year yet for disadvantaged families in our region. To help you simply need to:
**Texts are charged at your standard message rate and 100% of the donation will come to Cash for Kids. Please obtain the bill payer’s permission first.
Yorkshire Bank bike library
Anyone with an old bike they’re not using any more can take it to a local Yorkshire Bank donation station, where it’ll be spruced up and used in one of the bike libraries throughout the region to help change the life of another child.
Full details of the bike libraries across Leeds are:
Support Crisis at Christmas
Government street counts estimate that more than 4,000 people sleep rough across England on any given night. This is a devastating, dangerous and isolating situation, made even worse by the cold temperatures and festive celebrations.
At 13 centres across the country, Crisis at Christmas gives homeless people good food, friendly company, healthcare and clean clothes – and is a vital first step towards leaving homelessness for good. You can help by reserving a place for a homeless person at Crisis at Christmas, donating a gift or even volunteering your time.
The above are just a few ideas of acts of kindness you can do as a family to give back to others over the festive period.
Why don’t you join our South Leeds Mumbler chat group and share your ideas with others.
