Take time to spread the Christmas goodwill to all
It can be easy to fall into a ‘spend and consume’ pattern at Christmas, but there’s no better time to take a new approach and do something good for others and our city. Whether you have got a whole day, or just five minutes to spare, there are so many way
Make a donation and buy someone in need a Christmas dinner
THE Wellspring in Stockport supports disadvantaged, homeless and vulnerable people 365 days a year.
Christmas is even busier than usual and on December 25 they try to provide full Christmas dinners and gift to as many people in need as they can. By donating £5 to their Christmas appeal on JustGiving, you can help make this happen. You can donate at www.justgiving.com
Volunteer to help the homeless
THE homeless crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing our city, and in winter those sleeping rough need our help more than ever.
Our mayor, Andy Burnham, has placed homelessness at the top of his agenda, pledging to end rough sleeping by 2020.
There lots of things you can do to help immediately.
One festive initiative includes the Stall for All in the Northern Quarter.
The donation hub popped up in Stevenson Square earlier in December and ‘sells’ several items representing things that make Christmas special that not everyone has, such as family, warmth, food, joy and dignity.
Each item encourages a small donation between £3-£20, or people can simply text ’Stall’ to 70607 to donate £5.
Donations go to The Greater Manchester Mayor’s fund, set up by Andy Burnham, and Big Change Manchester.
Meanwhile soup kitchens desperately need an extra pair of hands, and there are lots of organisations who will be supporting the homeless on Christmas Day itself.
Three centres will be open on December 25 itself, offering hot festive food.
Lifeshare in Angel Meadow, the Booth Centre in Strangeways, and Cornerstone, on the edge of Rusholme, will all be open on Christmas Day, one of the toughest and coldest days of the year to be homeless. Go to www.lifeshare.org.uk.
The Booth Centre will also run a Christmas day service. Visit www. boothcentre.org.uk
Cornerstone, the day centre run by the Diocese of Salford, will be open on Christmas Day and Boxing
Day between 10.30am and 3pm, serving hot dinner. Visit cornerstonecds.org.uk.
Coffee 4 Craig , the Mustard Tree, Food For All, Centrepoint, Justlife, MASH and Reachout TTC will all also be providing drop-ins either side of Christmas Day.
Give a £10 book gift and light up a child in care’s Christmas.
CHRISTMAS can be a tough time for children in care.
Every year the Book Trust sends out book parcels to the 9,700 children living in care in the UK.
For many children, it may be the first time they have had a letter or parcel through the post – and for some, it may be the first book they have owned.
This Christmas, the charity want to surprise these children, by sending each child a special book gift which they will not be expecting.
To donate £10 to send a book to one of these children, go to: www. booktrust.org.uk/xmas
Take treats to your local police stations or fire fighters
WHILE most of us have Christmas Day off work, for police, fire fighters and nurses it is just like any other day of the year.
Care workers [168,000] and medical staff [152,000] account for a big share of those working on Friday 25 December.
In what is likely to be a busy festive period for the NHS, 89,000 nurses, 46,000 nursing assistants and 17,000 doctors will all be on duty, as well as countless police and firefighters putting in shifts.
So why not take over some mince pies or other festive treats to show them you appreciate the hard work they do, while everyone else is spending it with their families?
Buy Christmas dinner for a dog
IT’S not just people that need a bit of extra care and attention of the festive period. Dogs in animal shelters need food and blankets over Christmas.
As the saying goes a dog is for life and not just for Christmas so if you aren’t able to take on a dog fully, why not give an helping hand to those looking after the pooches. Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home are asking for food donations - or you can donate £1 to give a dog a festive dinner.
For more information, go to: www. dogshome.net