Volunteers pack hampers for Surviving Christmas.

Surviving Christmas issues appeal for funds

Surviving Christmas, which has been helping vulnerable and homeless people in the Hastings and Rother districts for many years, plans to hold its usual open-house event on Christmas and Boxing days, but as it faces the prospect of drawing on its reserves for the second year running, is appealing for donations to support its work, as the charity explains.

This year, although things have improved since our 2020 campaign, Covid19 means that many people will need our help urgently. We will be packing and distributing in the region of 800 Christmas hampers (up 15% from last year) for the most vulnerable in our area, who are referred to us by many local Government agencies.

Safeguarding our volunteers will be vital – social distancing measures will be in place and carefully observed: there will be restrictions on what we can do, and the amount of volunteers we can welcome. Further, due to the need to keep both our volunteers and the people whom we help safe, this year we are not accepting any clothing donations. We are working closely with Warming up the Homeless who would be pleased to accept items of warm clothing which are distributed via their outreach program.

We are, however, delighted that our Two-Day event will be taking place this year, and are already gearing up for it. Food has been ordered, plans have been made, volunteers have been notified, entertainment has been booked. After the disappointment of 2020, we are so pleased that we can this year welcome guests on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The event will, as ever, take place in the Salvation Army premises in St Andrews Square, which we have booked for the duration.

Covid has also meant that we have been restricted as to our fundraising events this year: although we have been able to fundraise more than in 2020, we drew heavily on our reserves last year, and will be doing so again this year again with expenditure which is likely to be in excess of previous years.

To that end, we would particularly welcome monetary donations in place of the things listed above which we cannot accept. Any help in this area would be so much appreciated – donations online or by cheque would be very welcome.

Another very concrete way you might help would be to  sponsor a hamper, at £35. The hampers bring Christmas cheer to so many families, and will feed a family of four. Whatever you can do to help, no matter how small, will support many of our most vulnerable residents.

You may donate via bank transfer, using the following details:
Account name: Surviving Christmas
Sort code: 09 01 28
Account number: 95632396

Please keep in touch via Facebook and our website for the most up-to-date news. We wish you all a safe and happy Christmas, and thank you for thinking of us in these still strange and difficult times.

Also in: Charities