Christmas is drawing closer, and while that means a welcome increase in mince pies, mulled wine and belting Mariah Carey to the annoyance of your flatmates, it can also mean an increase of present buying-induced stress. Concerns are growing regarding the increasing materialism of Christmas – so why not use this festive season as a chance to put your money where it really matters, and donate to a charity? We’re not saying you have to do this instead of taking part in your flat’s Secret Santa, but the smallest donation to any of these charities would make a huge difference in these wintery months. (If you’re feeling super altruistic, you could even ask that people donate to a charity instead of buying you a present – if this is you, you truly have a heart of gold!)
Community Christmas
Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for elderly people – it can be cold, stressful, and lonely if their families are no longer with them or have moved away. Community Christmas believes no elderly person should be alone on Christmas Day unless they want to be, and they organise community pub/restaurant dinners, film viewings and home visits for vulnerable old people. A donation of £2 would answer a phone call from an older person. Donating to this charity really can change lives on Christmas Day.
St Petrock’s
Exeter’s Christmas lights are lovely but many unfortunate people see them for too long as they spend the night outside. St Petrock’s is an Exeter-based charity providing help for those who are homeless or struggling to find accommodation. As winter can be an exceptionally difficult time for those unable to find accommodation inside, any donation to this charity over the Christmas period is valuable. As well as/instead of donating money, their website also links to their Amazon wishlist and you can buy items such as clothes and rucksacks and have them delivered to St Petrock’s HQ.
Canine Partners
One of the charities included in The Telegraph’s Christmas Charity Appeal this year, Canine Partners works to provide people living with disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, strokes, and veterans wounded in service with a companion dog. These assistance dogs are trained to help their owners with simple tasks such as picking up dropped items and loading washing machines and, perhaps most importantly, fetching help in an emergency. It costs £20,000 for Canine Partners to select and train a puppy, match it with an owner and care for it throughout its life, so any donation will help this wonderful process. Canine Partner’s website says that just £5 would pay for a treat to reward a puppy during its training…major heart eyes emoji.
Salvation Army
Over Christmas, the Salvation Army is running a national Christmas Present Appeal. You can help by donating toys and gifts for children, and the Salvation Army then distribute the presents to children whose families may not be able to provide the festivities we’re lucky enough to be used to. Exeter’s Salvation Army is based in Friar’s Gate, a short walk from the quay.
Exeter Foodbank
After you’ve done your weekly shop, it’s so easy to pop a couple of extra items in a supermarket’s food bank which will then be delivered to those in need over Christmas. Sainsbury’s in the Guildhall shopping centre is a really easy place to drop items off: at the moment, their top priority items needed include tins of potatoes, tins of vegetables, biscuits, sugar, tinned custard, jams and basic toiletries like toothbrushes, deodorant and shower gel.
Bonus: Charity Christmas Cards
One of the hidden but best parts of Exeter’s festivities is the Charity Christmas Card shop. Nestled just along from Tea on the Green, if you head inside St Martin’s Church you’ll find hundreds of packs of Christmas cards, and the proceeds go to charities ranging from the RSPCA to Shelter to Cancer Research to Diabetes UK. They also sell Christmas decorations – and as Tea on the Green is just next door, it’s a perfect excuse for a festive cream tea.
HCX hopes you will be inspired by these wonderful charities to share the love this Christmas. Donations, small or large, can be life-savers.