Christmas Connection is an initiative run in partnership with Derby City Mission, Love Your Neighbour and Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance that we are hoping we can all play our part in this year.
Given the difficult circumstances that many families are facing, churches and charities like Upbeat Communities, Derby City Mission, Safe Families for Children and The Hope Centre will be receiving lots of requests from families needing our help to provide presents for their children this Christmas.
Last year we were able to provide present parcels for 705 children in need in our city. Here is some feedback from one organisation we partnered with last year: 'With the assistance of Christmas Connection, we have been able to bring real joy and the spirit of Christmas into so many more homes. Your work is transformative for each child; you give not just the gift of Christmas but the gift of kindness which could change the whole way they see the world'.
This year there will be considerably more and we will only be able to meet this demand as we work together. If you are able to hold a toy service or collection, we would be most grateful. We will need to quarantine toys delivered before we can pack them to minimise the risk of cross infection, so we would appreciate it if you are able to hold your service/ end your appeal no later than the first week in December. If you are not able to hold a service/collection, we will again be using the very successful Amazon wish list this year to enable people to buy gifts and have them delivered straight to The Derby City Mission offices at 10 Normanton Road DE1 2GW (Gift Registry address). You can access the list via this link https://amzn.eu/683VaUr.
Please promote this among your friends, neighbours and churches. You can also look at this list for ideas for presents as it gets harder each year to avoid computerised toys for older children and accordingly this is the age group we can be short of presents for (9-17 year olds). We will also have an appeal on the Derby City Mission website through which people can make donations so that we can buy for the age groups most needed at https://www.derbycitymission.org.uk/christmas
If you are planning to hold a toy service or a collection this year, please get in touch with Sarah Fowler, Head of Poverty and Prevention at Derby City Mission Sarah@derbycitymission.org.uk and let her know the date you are likely to be able to deliver the toys collected. Please remember we only accept brand new toys, teddies and books; chocolate selection boxes and sweets are also very welcome.
Thank you so much for your support in blessing children and families in need in our city.