Hello and welcome to Street Santa! "What's this?", I hear you cry. Let me explain...

On my way to work every day I pass a number of people who regularly sleep on the streets near to Covent Garden and the Strand. I would like to offer them something this Christmas and am asking for your help to make that happen. The idea is simple, and threefold: 1) buy some presents, 2) wrap them and 3) give them to homeless people.

You may be up to your eyes in Christmas shopping already. You may be sick of festive cheer and John Lewis adverts. You may be crap at wrapping. You may wonder what an anonymous gift given out of the blue can do for someone who is down on their luck and sleeping rough. I don't have answers to any of these dilemmas, but I'm pressing ahead with it anyway, and I need your help.

I am hoping to raise £200, which will be enough to buy a small number of well-chosen gifts and hopefully some nice things to eat. If you can spare a couple of quid at this expensive time of year, I promise that your donation will be well spent. Suggestions for gifts are listed below, and I very much welcome your ideas in this regard; please leave comments! Any surplus donations will be given to Crisis.

I will also need some assistance in carrying out the three stages of the plan (see above). You could be the one who prepares the little bits of selotape, or the one who carries all the bags, or the one who fearlessly starts conversations with total strangers. Whatever your skills, if you have even a tiny bit of enthusiasm for this activity, I want to hear from you.

Finally, please do share this page with one more person and encourage them to make a donation. And wish them a very Merry Christmas!

Genevieve

Gift Ideas

Useful things, ideally of good quality and not too basic: wool socks, scarves, hats or gloves; razors; moisturiser; reusable water bottles.

Things to do: books, games, sketchpad and pencils, playing cards.

Luxury foods: good chocolate, Christmas cake, biscuits, cheese and crackers.