Secret Santa for Bristol's homeless
Donation protected
UPDATE: I HAVE A CONCRETE PLAN! I've made contact with some people at St Mungos in Bristol. They have an xmas lunch for about 60 homeless people on 13th December and can give out any gifts we get to them ☺️
I am super excited See my latest 'update' for full details.
I also have a deadline to allow me time to buy and send the gifts on: I WILL STOP TAKING DONATIONS ON FRIDAY 7TH DECEMBER.
PLEASE SHARE LIKE CRAZY TO HELP ME MAKE THE MOST OF THE FINAL 3 WEEKS.
Original post:
Its getting cold and Christmas is suddenly THE topic of conversation but I -and most people I know - live comfortably and really don't have a need for anything. Meanwhile the level of homelessness in Bristol is heartbreaking. (Some not so light reading, for anyone interested:
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/homeless-people-died-bristol-list-1898971)
I met the guy in my picture this morning (he was originally wary to talk to me at all, so I totally forgot to ask his name). Last night he slept in a tent on the cycle path. Last night it hit 0c. We're only in October.
He said the worst thing wasn't the sleeping outside. It was having to constantly move in an attempt to stay warm. He had barely had any sleep.
A few weeks ago the 'secret Santa' thing crept into conversations. I'm always asked to join few, or set a limit on the cost of gifts with friends because we feel compelled to buy for each other. I often feel like it's quite pressured and I'm buying unnecessarily for someone I don't know that well and/or receiving something I really don't want or need.
So I want to do something BETTER with my money this year. I want to show the homeless people of Bristol that we care - and hopefully to make their Xmas just a little brighter. I originally thought to do stockings and have floated the idea to a few 'people in the right places'. It raises some difficulties... None of these things are insurmountable though. The biggest obstacle is not knowing how much I've got to give.
So I'll be honest, RIGHT NOW I'm not sure exactly what form the donations will take, but with a cash figure I can work with the right people to find the right items and the right group to give them to.
I have done a bit of research and the average Secret Santa asking in the UK is £10. Right now that would buy an underlayer top and some long Johns*.
£5 would buy a 3 pack of thick socks*
*From reputable outdoor clothes shops
If I can't buy and distribute actual gifts I promise every penny will be donated to a homeless charity who already do amazing work every day and are, afterall, the experts.
So, if anyone I know is thinking of getting me a token gift, I will ask them to contribute here instead. I will be declining invites to Secret Santa groups and donating here instead. I will also be sharing this with my friends, so that if they want my present to them to be a donation instead, it will be. If a few other people joined me, we could make an even bigger difference.
Thanks for reading.
Danni x
I am super excited See my latest 'update' for full details.
I also have a deadline to allow me time to buy and send the gifts on: I WILL STOP TAKING DONATIONS ON FRIDAY 7TH DECEMBER.
PLEASE SHARE LIKE CRAZY TO HELP ME MAKE THE MOST OF THE FINAL 3 WEEKS.
Original post:
Its getting cold and Christmas is suddenly THE topic of conversation but I -and most people I know - live comfortably and really don't have a need for anything. Meanwhile the level of homelessness in Bristol is heartbreaking. (Some not so light reading, for anyone interested:
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/homeless-people-died-bristol-list-1898971)
I met the guy in my picture this morning (he was originally wary to talk to me at all, so I totally forgot to ask his name). Last night he slept in a tent on the cycle path. Last night it hit 0c. We're only in October.
He said the worst thing wasn't the sleeping outside. It was having to constantly move in an attempt to stay warm. He had barely had any sleep.
A few weeks ago the 'secret Santa' thing crept into conversations. I'm always asked to join few, or set a limit on the cost of gifts with friends because we feel compelled to buy for each other. I often feel like it's quite pressured and I'm buying unnecessarily for someone I don't know that well and/or receiving something I really don't want or need.
So I want to do something BETTER with my money this year. I want to show the homeless people of Bristol that we care - and hopefully to make their Xmas just a little brighter. I originally thought to do stockings and have floated the idea to a few 'people in the right places'. It raises some difficulties... None of these things are insurmountable though. The biggest obstacle is not knowing how much I've got to give.
So I'll be honest, RIGHT NOW I'm not sure exactly what form the donations will take, but with a cash figure I can work with the right people to find the right items and the right group to give them to.
I have done a bit of research and the average Secret Santa asking in the UK is £10. Right now that would buy an underlayer top and some long Johns*.
£5 would buy a 3 pack of thick socks*
*From reputable outdoor clothes shops
If I can't buy and distribute actual gifts I promise every penny will be donated to a homeless charity who already do amazing work every day and are, afterall, the experts.
So, if anyone I know is thinking of getting me a token gift, I will ask them to contribute here instead. I will be declining invites to Secret Santa groups and donating here instead. I will also be sharing this with my friends, so that if they want my present to them to be a donation instead, it will be. If a few other people joined me, we could make an even bigger difference.
Thanks for reading.
Danni x
Organizer
Netti Ban Darr
Organizer
