insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 21 - November 2016 | Page 108

CHARITY
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING cont.

big day? Making space for the new items you
know are coming helps you keep a clear head
and will save you money on that dreaded IKEA
trip. But it will also help those in need if you take
the old toys and unopened gifts from last year
to your local charity. Either drop them off at a
shop or take them to a centre where they can
be wrapped and given out to those less fortunate.
That cuddly bear that hasn’t even been looked
at let alone played with since it arrived in your
home might be the only present a less fortunate
child receives this year.
It’s not just about toys either – we’ve all got too
many clothes, and some of them having been
languishing in our wardrobes and drawers for
months or even years without seeing the light of
day. For a homeless person the gift of a new suit
or warm jumper could make all the difference.
Coats are particularly needed. There are lots of
clothes banks dotted around high streets, or
again you could take your unwanted outfits directly
to a charity shop.

But what if, instead of buying things that are not
going to get eaten (we throw away around £64
million worth of food as a nation over the festive
period), wouldn’t it be better to donate items to
a food bank instead? You could do your big
Christmas shop and buy a few extra bits and
bobs (not just food, but sanitary products and
nappies are always needed too) which can go
straight to charity. Alternatively, don’t buy any
extra than usual, but donate anyway. Are you
really going to eat all of those mince pies? What
about the selection box of chocolates that was
on offer so you bought two? If you can, let
someone else enjoy these treats.

Give Blood

And don’t forget, food banks need donations all
year round, so if, once all the excitement is out
of the way, you find yourself with plenty of leftover
food that just isn’t going to get eaten, don’t throw
it out – take it to a food bank. Check
www.thetrusselltrust.org.uk to find your nearest
one.

Pay It Forward

Help The Animals
Buy A Little Extra
The big Christmas food shop… love it or loathe
it, it’s a necessity, particularly if you are hosting
on the big day. Christmas is a time to indulge,
to eat a little (or a lot!) more than you would
normally, and generally be a bit naughty. And the
money we spend on these feasts is astronomical.
We might moan about it, but by the time we get
home with enough food to see us through the
week of Christmas, we can finally feel as though
things are going to plan.

Sadly, animal shelters become more full than
ever at Christmastime. Some people choose to
give away their older pets in anticipation of getting
a new one, and others give away news ones that
they hadn’t asked for and didn’t want and yet
were given them anyway.
Any extra pet food that you have – particularly
for dogs and cats, although fish food and birdseed
are also needed – will always be welcome at your
local animal shelter. Unwanted pet toys can also
be given. Your time will also be gladly received
as shelters will be so busy. Come in to play with
the animals, take the dogs for walks, clear out
the kennels and cages and generally be on hand
when required.

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Giving blood won’t cost you anything, and it
won’t harm you in any way. And although a lot
of people sign up to give blood at Christmas,
estimates say that around one in five of them
simply don’t turn up to their appointment.
Hospitals are always in need of blood, and taking
the time to give yours could literally save a life
this festive season. It’s easy to sign up (you can
do it online at www.blood.co.uk) and, as long as
you meet the requirements, you can start giving
straight away.

The idea behind paying it forward is something
that can – and should – be remembered
throughout the year, but at Christmas it is the
perfect time to begin giving on a daily basis.
Paying it forward means doing something good
for someone else so that they will, ideally, do
something nice for someone else. In this way, a
chain of good deeds can grow hugely – and
make quite the difference. You could start simply
by paying for someone’s food in a restaurant or
buying someone coffee in the morning. Put a
smile on their face and you’ve changed
their outlook for the entire day. It’s a lovely thing
to do.
You don’t even have to spend any money to do
this. Pay a stranger a compliment and you could
have started a chain of positive events that ends
up helping someone you have never and will
never meet. It’s a beautiful thought indeed.