The winter months are kicking in, and it’s time for mulled wine, carols, festive headgear and parties accompanied by barely tolerable Christmas pop songs. But not everybody in our community is fortunate enough to have friends or family around to enjoy the season with. We’re teaming up with Age UK‘s No one should have no one at Christmas campaign – and you, Brixton residents, B£ users, B£ Cafe customers – to try and bring a bit more warmth to older Lambeth residents this year.
Age UK, one of the organisations which received funding from our local grant scheme the Brixton Fund, is hosting a Christmas lunch on 25th December at the Vida Walsh Centre, just off Windrush Square, for older people who would otherwise not have someone to spend Christmas with. At the B£, we’re asking our customers and supporters whether they can donate a small gift, perhaps something you no longer have a use for, something you’ve made, or something bought at a local B£ business that can be wrapped and given as a small token. Please bring your donations to the B£ Cafe at 77 Atlantic Road – thank you!
We will also gladly accept any donations of wrapping paper, and if you could offer some of your time to help us wrap the gifts too, we’d be overjoyed. We’re planning to do that at the B£ Cafe on 21st and 22nd December.
Gifts don’t need to be large. Even a small thing can make someone’s Christmas. Some suggestions are:
- Small packets of sweets/chocolates
- Small packets of biscuits/crackers
- Pots of jam/marmalade/honey
- Fruit: tangerines and oranges
- Dried fruit
- Hot chocolate/tea/ovaltine
- Gloves
- Socks
- Toiletries/soaps/shower gel
- 2017 diaries
- Small notebooks
- Small calendars
You can also donate B£s to the Vida Walsh Centre ran by Age UK Lambeth – if you already have a B£ account, you can simply text “pay vida [donation amount]” to the B£ pay-by-text number (07926200421). Or if you prefer donating pounds sterling, you can text AUKL16 £4 to 70070 to give £4 to help buy Christmas lunch for an older person.
