November is when the Christmas charity campaigns kick into action. This year there are several Christmas campaigns run by local charities – all seeking your support to make Christmas a little bit special for those in need within our community. Here’s how you can get involved with local charities Love works, Stripey Stork, Childrens Trust and VARB
Loveworks “Red Together”
When: Throughout November; Where: At your office/work place; Suitable for: Everyone
Loveworks is a Reigate charity that helps local people in need, including those living with food poverty, those fleeing domestic abuse and those living in social isolation. Your company could get involved in their “Red Together” campaign in a number of ways:
- Wear it Red! – hold a day where staff wear red in exchange for sponsorship
- Give food/gifts – run a collection point for food donations for local foodbanks and/or Christmas gifts for children living in a local refuge
- Give cash – £5 buys a stocking; £10 helps fill a stocking £15 helps pack a Christmas food box
More information: www.loveworks.org.uk/christmas-appeal-2017/
Santa Stork with Stripey Stork
When: 1st December cut off date; Where: At your office/workplace; Suitable for: Everyone
Santa Stork is a Christmas campaign run by Redhill based charity Stripey Stork. It provides brand new presents to children and their parents/carers. In some cases these are the only present that the child or parent/carer will receive at Christmas. You can help by buying a gift from their Amazon wish list; buying your own gift and dropping it off at a local collection point or making a donation through Local Giving (thoughout November if you donate a tenner then Local Giving will match your donation!) More information: www.stripeystork.org.uk/santa-stork-campaign/
Festive Friday with The Children’s Trust
When: 8th December; Where: At your office/workplace; Suitable for: Everyone
The Children’s Trust is a national charity based at Tadworth that offers rehabilitation services for children and young people with a brain injury. Festive Friday involves wearing something festive to work in exchange for a £2 voluntary donation to the Children’s Trust. So, dig out those festive jumpers, Santa hats, Christmas tree earrings, Reindeer ears, tinsel – anything festive you find to wear!
More information: www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/festive-friday
A Festive Feast with Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead
When: 24th and 25th December; Where: Reigate; Suitable for: individual volunteers
Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead’s Festive Feast is a Christmas Day community lunch held for people facing Christmas alone. It is free of charge to guests and is run by a team of volunteers who serve up a traditional Christmas dinner and entertainment. We are looking for volunteers to help deliver this special Christmas event: car drivers, table hosts, lunch servers and front desk volunteers.
More information: www.varb.org.uk/volunteering/volunteer-opportunities/
If you know someone facing Christmas alone and would like more information on how to receive an invitation to the Festive Feast or if you would like to make a donation see here
