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How to donate Christmas gifts to people experiencing homelessness


Christmas tree at Catching Lives and volunteers serving Christmas dinner
Christmas 2023 at Catching Lives

Catching Lives Day Centre is open seven days a week, 365 days of the year including Christmas Day.


A team of volunteers and staff will be serving Christmas dinner to our clients as well as giving out gifts as part of the festivities on 25 December.


If you’d like to get involved by donating treats and gifts to make a difference to people experiencing homelessness, here’s how to help.


Our clients have said these items are most useful to them and will be much appreciated.


  • Christmas sweets and treats (e.g. nuts, cakes, sweets etc)

  • Gift sets (shower gel, deodorant, aftershave)

  • Moisturiser (small tubes or pots, unisex)

  • Travel mugs/thermos/water bottles

  • Thick socks

  • Scarves and beanie hats

  • Power packs

  • Mini torches with USB chargers

  • Notebooks and sketchpads

  • Pencils for sketching or colouring (and erasers)

  • Adult colouring books

  • Crossword/sudoku puzzle books

  • Waterproof rucksack covers

  • A5/A6 notebooks or diaries with robust covers

  • Hand creams (small size)


Please bring donations into our centre in Station Road East any day between 9am and 4pm (until 1.30pm Wednesdays). Please do not wrap Christmas gifts, as we will create a gift bag for each person.

 

If you want to contact us, you can call ahead on 01227 464904. We welcome your generous Christmas collections! 


Please note we cannot accept donations of alcohol or cigarettes.


Gift Vouchers


Gift vouchers for retailers such as Asda, Tesco, Argos, Dunelm Mill and Home Bargains are also much appreciated. We use vouchers to buy items for our clients who might have moved into unfurnished homes and need basic essentials to maintain their accommodation, such as cutlery and bedding.


Donate to the Catching Lives Winter Appeal


If you would prefer to donate financially, then we are running a winter campaign via JustGiving. We are hoping to raise £50,000 towards opening the Canterbury Community Shelter, as well as keeping our essential services running through winter and beyond.


Thank you for your continued support.


Sign up to the Catching Lives newsletter here.

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