How can I help homelessness this Winter?

How can I help homelessness this Winter?

2020 has been a tough year for everyone. For some, our hardships have been exacerbated by covid restrictions and implications, while for many others, it has put us and our families under extreme new pressure. 

We’ve needed one other to depend on, connect with and provide support to more than ever. It also reminded us all that during uncertain times, how essential and reassuring a safe and permanent home is for our physical and mental wellbeing. 

Sadly, this Christmas thousands of people will be alone, forced onto the streets, into sofa surfing, or into a hostel with nowhere to call home and no-one to be with. Many more will be experiencing their ever first homeless Christmas.

We want to help. 

For every Key Worker Pamper Box sold, we will be donating £5 to Crisis. Can you help us double last year’s donation of £400?

How can I help? 

If you’re unable to support Crisis in fighting homelessness financially, there are still many essential and life-changing ways you can help the charity support as many people as possible this Christmas. We’ve listed them below:

Donate needed items

For 14 days over Christmas, Crisis will provide a lifeline for homeless people, offering support and companionship. To run these services, they rely heavily on donated items - from shoes to stationery. Team up with your colleagues, friends or neighbors to help deliver much needed packages of:

  • FOOD AND DRINK: Snacks, biscuits, chocolate, crisps and confectionery (all individually portioned and wrapped). All food and drink items must have a ‘use by’ or ‘best before date extending past 31 January 2020. 
  • CLOTHING: Crisis is struggling the most to source: New men’s shoes, new men’s t-shirts, jumpers and tracksuit bottoms, new men’s and women’s underwear and new men’s coats.
  • TOILETRIES: Men’s deodorant (roll on only, no aerosols please), shaving foam, razors, shampoo, shower gel, mouthwash (no alcohol). 
  • Please pack up and send your parcels to: Crisis at Christmas Warehouse, Leven Road, E14, Poplar.

    Shake up your Secret Santa

    Not sure what to get your colleague for the annual Secret Santa saga? Ask everyone to donate a gift of Crisis at Christmas instead of buying a physical gift. Crisis can furnish you and your colleagues with a wonderful Crisis pin badge to compensate you for your loss of a wrapped present. 

    Christmas Crafternoon

    Arts and crafts not only allow us to be creative and keep us busy, but they can be beneficial for our mental health and combating loneliness. Why not set aside an afternoon for a virtual ‘crafternoon’ with your friends and family, or colleagues. Create a challenge, and ask attendees to donate to Crisis to take part. You could organise a special prize for the winner. The crafty challenges are endless! You could run a crochet marathon, design a christmas card, make jewelry or make the sparkly knitwear. 

    Take part in Crisis’ 12 Days of Christmas 

    Lockdown has made it more difficult for most of us to stay active. Crisis has launched a ‘12 Days of December’ this year, challenging you to rack up 12,000 steps every day! Why not take on the challenge and fundraise for Crisis at the same time? You can share your progress with friends, family and colleagues and ask for their sponsorship, or join them for a socially distanced walk. You can set up a JustGiving page and use a Fitbit or phone app to track and share your achievements. 

    Get icey 

    The Crisis Icebreaker is an annual winter event that sees hundreds of brave fundraisers taking a dip in icy lidos, lakes and seas in order to raise money for their Christmas activities. So, will you face a freezing lido, take an icy plunge in the sea, or face the freeze in a fancy dress from your own bathroom or go for the old school ice bucket challenge? Get sponsored to brave the cold over a week, or make a splash as a team, adding a competitive element across teams to make things more exciting. 

    Be kind

    Most importantly, be kind. If you’re aware of coming across anyone rough sleeping in your area, offer to give them the contact details for Crisis so they can receive advice and support. Perhaps you can also offer a hot meal and drink to keep them warm for the day? 

    Raise awareness

    The more people that are aware of the issue, the better. Help us shout about homelessness this winter so that no one has to spend it scared and alone. How about sharing this on your social media channels?

    Everyone in our society should have a safe and secure home. But right now, many people are denied this basic human need. I’m supporting homeless people this Christmas with a donation to @crisis_uk. Please join me and learn more at: https:// www.crisis.org.uk/crisis-this-christmas

    Thank you!

    The fact that you’ve read to the bottom of this feature, shows you really care. We hope you’ve found an interesting or helpful idea here to help fight homelessness this Christmas.