Phrase Writers Group

Buying Christmas presents for people of all ages who otherwise would receive nothing.

I heard about the Christmas Tree Challenge in 1997 from Business In The Community, originally founded by Prince Charles.

CHRISTMAS TREE CHALLENGE

Christmas is just around the corner. It always is, no matter how far off Christmas Day. Planning for the festive season starts months or more in advance. Book and magazine publishers covering every aspect of the Great Winter Festival. Songs often recorded during the summer, such as Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody” or “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day”. And on it goes.

Come December, or often earlier, Christmas trees start appearing. Weighed down by tinsel, lights and decorations. Surrounded by presents. Boxes large and small wrapped in brightly coloured paper. At our homes these presents are eagerly examined by younger family members, desperate for opening-time on December 25th.

There are many other Christmas trees with their large wrapped boxes. All empty. Just for show.

The Christmas Tree Challenge is about buying a present for those who otherwise will receive nothing at Christmas. This is not a Lucky dip for the recipients. You are buying a present for a specific named person, wrapping it and signing a Christmas card with a message of your choice.

The Challenge works well with clubs and companies. It is very popular with staff and recipients, definitely a win-win.

So how does it work?

First get approval from the head of your club or company.

Start contacting charities in late August to early September. You are looking for people who will not receive a present at Christmas. That is the only criteria. You want their first names, age and gender. How the charity selects the people is up to them.

Ask about guidelines for presents. For example no alcohol (includes liqueur chocolates), no small parts etc. But avoid specific presents being requested.

How many names? Ten names per 100 staff is one rule of thumb.

Emphasise to the charity this is NOT a lucky dip. You want to buy presents for named people. The wrapped presents will be delivered to the charity, for them to deliver.

I never knew where the recipients lived, nor did I meet any. This was particularly important when we bought for single mothers and their children at women’s refuges.

Make friends with reception staff, who are key to the success. Explain what you are doing, that you want to put real presents under the Christmas tree in their area. Ask for their involvement. Often that makes a big difference.

Decide how to deliver the presents. Find out when the charity would like them, often a week before Christmas. This will help with the scheduling for the rest of the Challenge.

I allowed a two week period, normally late November / early December for staff to buy & wrap their presents. And extensively advertised the Challenge, explaining how it worked, with posters, all-staff emails and word-of-mouth.

Over the years I had some poignant feedback. One mother asked how much. When told a stranger had bought presents for herself and her child, she cried with joy. And then carefully hid the presents. Another single mother, whose life was already hard enough, was so touched a stranger cared that she volunteered with the charity to help others.

Are you interested in organising your own Christmas Tree Challenge? It’s such a feel good activity.

I have extensive notes on organising and enjoying the Challenge