Love Christmas 2021 around the Nation
Our impact
This year, over 1,700 churches and organisations partnered together to share kindness in their local communities.
Love Christmas has reached over 1,000,000 people with Bags of Kindness since launch
Over 17,000 volunteers from across the nation were involved in packing and delivering Bags of Kindness.
As we take a moment to look back over the past few months, we have been overwhelmed with the feedback and responses we’ve received from our Love Christmas 2021 campaign.
Since our launch, Love Christmas has reached over 1 million people with ‘Bags of Kindness’ and this year, over 1,700 churches and organisations partnered together to inspire a vibrant movement of care and generosity.
We’ve heard stories of communities connecting, life-changing conversations on doorsteps, the lonely and isolated encouraged, and churches offering care and joy to those in their locality - the homeless, the vulnerable, refugees, and simply those who needed to be reminded of the power of human kindness.
Thank you for your support. We hope you enjoy reading some of our highlights!
Volunteers from across the country bought gifts, packed bags and delivered them all around your neighbourhoods to bring joy to others. This year, Love Christmas was powered by over 17,000 incredible volunteers, just like you. Here is a snapshot of hubs and volunteers in action. Your very own Hall of Fame....
Head to our gallery to see more photos from Love Christmas 2021.
How Love Christmas made a difference
We have been inspired by so many of the stories we’ve received which show how Love Christmas not only made a positive difference in people’s lives but has also acted as a gateway to support some of the most vulnerable people in an ongoing capacity. Below are a few of the stories we’ve received:
“We had delivery after delivery of gifts that meant that we could pack the first 250 gifts.”
St Werburgh’s, Derby
Daniel’s mum lost her job as her firm had a downturn and once furlough ended, they had to let go of half of their workforce. Our Debt and Benefits team had helped her claim the right benefits and supported her with food parcels for a time. She said:
“We had delivery after delivery of gifts that meant that we could pack the first 250 gifts. Every time we ran out of presents for a particular age, we sent messages out and prayers up and everything we needed was donated. It was wonderful to be a part of something that helps so many people.”
Volunteer
“Daniel started off asking for lots of things for Christmas. At some point, I think he picked up that I couldn’t afford much so he stopped asking. I felt like I’d let him down so much. I didn’t feel like a proper Mum. The relief I felt when I was told that I could get presents for my son literally made me cry! I can’t thank you enough for helping me when I didn’t know what to do.”
Recipient
St Marks, Grimsby
Our delivery teams were amazed by the heartfelt response of recipients... there were many tears and people sharing their lives on the doorsteps. There's no doubt that this will spread positive gossip around the neighbourhood about what we're about as the local church.
“One recipient posted on Facebook that her daughter had asked for a game of Jenga for Christmas but she couldn't afford it. Without knowing, we delivered this game in their bag of kindness. She acknowledged the gift publicly and suggested that God must know exactly what they need. I love that they have encountered the love of God in this way... better than writing to Santa!!”
Recipient
City Coast Trust
We put together 126 hampers for those in need in our local community, specifically for residents at local hostels. We built a Santa sleigh to have in the church building for the church to 'stack the sleigh' with items that were requested by local hostels for the hampers. We then had a hamper night with approximately 50 volunteers to pack hampers, write cards whilst wearing Christmas jumpers and watching Elf!
"We put together 126 hampers for those in need in our local community, specifically for residents at local hostels.”
“It has such a massive impact on the wellbeing of the women that we support to receive these gifts around this time. It sends the message that people do care and they are worth caring for and this is incredibly important in their recovery back to a full and happy life. Thank you again and Merry Christmas to you all.”
Recipient
Saint Philip’s, Salford
We gave out 400 Bags of Hope filled with toiletries and extra Christmas goodies. These were distributed to Hostels working with the homeless, MASH a charity that works with sex workers, Boaz a charity that works with refugees and asylum seeker, and at our own Foodbank and outreach to the sex workers in Manchester.
“A highlight was seeing the smiles on the sex workers faces when they received a Bag of Hope with some extra special Christmas items - like special boxes of makeup, when we were on outreach. One lady cried on us because she felt so loved and said it was so touching that there were people out there who wanted to help people like her and give them such lovely things.”
Volunteer
“We gave out 400 Bags of Hope filled
with toiletries and extra Christmas goodies.”
Trent Vineyard, Nottingham
This year, we aimed to deliver just over 5,000 boxes with around 250 volunteers. Bags went out to school, foster children, and every prisoner in the three local prisons.
“I would like to say a huge thank you for my Bag of Kindness; it lifted my spirits greatly. It had been a tough few months - losing my husband to cancer and two months later, losing my mum. It was greatly appreciated – thank you. It was nice to know someone was thinking of me. “
Recipient
“This year, we aimed to deliver just over 5,000 boxes with around 250 volunteers.”
If you’re interested in supporting Love Christmas 2022, please reach out and the team will get back to you.
