Dear All
Firstly, thank you to everyone who donated last year and since 2020.
This year, I am raising money for books for families supported by Home Start, local community centres and school who provide food banks for families. I’m pleased to that once again Julia Donaldson and many other authors have kindly agreed to sign these books.
Every year the generosity from family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and strangers - astounds me, especially knowing how difficult the last few years have been financially on many people.
Since 2020 all of you have helped raise up to £4000 for books supporting hundreds of children and giving the joy of a book.
The money raised has supported over the years Home Start, The Bay Tree, Women and Children First as well as local schools and community centres who provide care packages / food banks to families who are struggling at Christmas. All of these books are kindly signed by the authors who take time to make sure these children feel that their book is extra special.
Book store
Just so you know we use an independent bookstore in a town outside of London (m25).
This bookstore gives a discount so we can buy even more books and generously pays for postage and organises the signing of all the books.
The store works with Julia Donaldson and arranged for her to sign every single book and a number of other authors they represent who have offered their time so these books are also a keepsake as they grow up.
Why books:
In 2016 I started making gingerbread in exchange for gifts for kids at Christmas. I had a wonderful Health Worker who made sure I got helped I need after my first child. When she told me she was going to help mothers, in particular those moms who were homeless and in temporary housing, I asked her how I could help. She said some of these children don't even have books at Christmas, so helping to get them one thing would be wonderful.
In 2020 I had to change my strategy, with Covid, as I couldn't make gingerbread safely and it wasn’t safe to get gifts. It turned out Books were the safest to quarantine and easiest thing to get to children. However on a personal note the joy of having a book and hearing/ reading a story is the best feeling ever.
Realistically, I could never now make that amount of gingerbread to cover this… but of course any special requests with donation I’ll do my best to provide!
Pictures are from the books we have gotten in the past and some mini gingerbread houses that were also used to raise money.
Thank you all for your amazing and continued support and any donation for Christmas 2024 books gratefully received.
Best wishes,
Amanda