Giving to Your Community at Christmas Posted on 18 December 2019 by Nikita Ponnappah at Kent-Teach in Wellbeing Most of us are lucky enough to have a warm bed to sleep in on Christmas Eve, but many people will be spending the cold wintery night outdoors in freezing conditions. Christmas is not always the most wonderful time of the year; some will be spending the day alone and others may struggle to provide a Christmas lunch for their families. Christmas time is an opportunity for you to give to your community so why not spread the Christmas cheer this year by volunteering your time? Many charities will be working hard to provide hot meals, shelters and food parcels. By volunteering you can add a little extra help during the festivities, you can also offer a gift that will help the most vulnerable. Christmas isn’t just about opening presents and filling our tummies with luxurious treats, it’s about giving and putting the sparkle back into someone’s Christmas this year. Here are 4 ways to help you make a difference this Christmas. 1) Nourish Reverse Advent Calendar Can you help feed someone this Christmas? Tunbridge Wells Community Foodbank have launched a campaign this year and asks people to place a food bag item into a box every day during the month of December. You can donate to these boxes with tinned potatoes, dried noodles, long-life milk and household items. People can bring their completed advent calendars to a pop-up shop in Ely Court Royal Victoria Place Shopping Centre. Follow this link to find out how to donate and drop off your collections. 2) Emmaus Dover Emmaus supports homeless people and houses 27 people at its Archcliffe Fort Community building in Dover. They work to support the community by selling second-hand furniture and goods at four charity shops, 2 in Dover, 1 in Ashford and 1 in Canterbury. If you’re having a clear out this Christmas please donate any old furniture at Emmaus Dover and complete an online form. 3) Companionship at Christmas Will you be spending Christmas on your own this year? Companionship at Christmas provides an invaluable service to those who would otherwise be spending Christmas on their own in the Swale Community. Guests are usually lonely, elderly and can be housebound without any family nearby on Christmas day. At Phoenix House guests are provided with a Christmas dinner, quizzes, carol singing, and attendance is completely free of charge. To get involved on Christmas day or Boxing day follow the link online. 4) Folkestone Rainbow Centre The Rainbow Centre works with Churches in the community and runs a winter shelter from December to February offering emergency accommodation for people living on the streets over the coldest months of the year. Volunteers can help set up and cook for guests staying in a variety of participating Church halls. Applications for volunteering are now closed but you can still donate online. Christmas is not just about giving gifts, giving your time is a lovely way to share the festive spirit. If you decide to give a gift to a colleague or teacher, try creating our 3 incredible edible treats at 3 Handmade Christmas Chocolate Gifts. Sources: http://www.swalecvs.org.uk/volunteering/companionship-christmas/https://emmaus.org.uk/dover/support-us/donate-goods/https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/how-you-can-help-homeless-881117