Spreading Christmas comfort and joy
"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear" claims Buddy the Elf. Etta Stubbings tells us what else we can do to spread cheer this Christmas.
For most of us, Christmas is a time for celebration and spending time with family and friends but sadly, this is not the case for everyone. Just like every year, Christmas offers us an opportunity to spread some love. The holiday season can be hard for many people, especially those who are alone this Christmas, but there are ways that you can help.
One way that you can help in your local area is by donating to a food bank. You can donate food directly to your resident food bank (Hailsham, Uckfield, Crowborough, Bexhill, etc) or drop your donations off to a supermarket collection point. Before donating to a food bank, make sure to check via their website what items they need as this can vary. Food banks distribute food and household items to those in need so by donating to one you are helping to improve their Christmas.
Another way in which you can help could be by checking in on vulnerable friends and neighbours. A friendly cup of tea can cheer up someone’s day or even week. You could offer to make someone Christmas dinner or bake them some festive cookies. Small acts of kindness, whatever the size, can really make a big impact on those who might not be fortunate enough to have people to celebrate Christmas with.
Fundraising is another great way to help those less fortunate at Christmas. Some ways you can raise money are: holding a festive bake sale with friends and family, take part in a Christmas jumper day or go Christmas carolling! Some charities that you can help fundraise for this Christmas are Oxfam, The Salvation Army, Age UK, Christian Aid, Crisis, and many others. Whatever you can donate, big or small, can still make a positive impact on someone this holiday season.
It doesn’t matter how you help - anything you do will make someone’s Christmas better with more love and joy, which is what Christmas is all about!
Etta Stubbings, Y10