No, it's not just chocolate
Although we deliver the selection boxes to social workers and care groups every Christmas, we do not get to see first-hand the children’s pure reactions when receiving the gifts. Thus, we have asked for some feedback to demonstrate how special these chocolate gifts are for the children.
After successfully completing our selection box appeal this year, we decided it would be a great idea to share some of the positive feedback we received from social workers and care groups across Nottingham and the East Midlands. Thank you to everyone who took part and thought to donate a gift to help remind our local vulnerable children that they are not forgotten this Christmas. The feedback we have received goes to show that small gestures of kindness can truly make a positive difference. We hope you enjoy reading the kind responses as much as we did!
Erewash Social Care
“We have a teenage girl who can be really avoidant/anxious of social care, she was so happy to receive a selection box she even sat down with her allocated worker and had a laugh. She felt like someone had thought about her, this went a long way. Thank you for thinking of the children we work with.”
“The selection boxes were given to the children at the end of our Talking Toddlers group. The families were extremely grateful, and the children were excited to tear open the wrapping paper when they were given the present. Staff, parents and children would like to thank you for this kind gift, seeing the children smile makes us happy as workers.”
“I gave a young, male parent who lives on his own and struggles with his mental health a selection box. He was taken back and said thank you so very much that’s really nice. When I visited his flat 3 days later he has placed the box under his tree that he had been given. The tree had one decoration on and that was his baby’s foot print on a Christmas tree we had done in the baby buddies group, under the tree was his only present – the selection box. Small gestures have a huge impact.”
“I gave a 9 year old one of the selection boxes during a direct work session. We made a Christmas card for each other, put Christmas music on and she shared out the chocolate with me. Made it into a lovely little Christmas party.”
Juno Women’s Aid
“We have gifted the selection boxes to the children we have living in our refuges at present, to children of survivors that we are supporting in both Nottingham City and South of the County, and also our Children and Teen service have been able to give them to all the young people they are working with and share them at a recent event they held for young people who have witnessed abuse. They have been really appreciated, especially being nicely wrapped. As we know times are difficult at the moment so being able to share a gift with those we are supporting means a lot.”
Places for People
“You absolutely make a difference and the smiles we will gain on the day delivering the Christmas selection boxes is priceless. A big thank you on behalf of all staff from PFP Living Plus, families and children.”
The staff at Places for People and their selection boxes!
Highwood House
“We genuinely cannot thank you enough for providing us with enough selection boxes so that each child gets to receive a sweet treat at Christmas time. For many children, without the generosity of others, they simply wouldn’t have anything to open on Christmas day, so it really does mean an awful lot.”
“A big thank you for supporting our Christmas Appeal We just wanted to write to say thank you so much for your kind donation to our Christmas appeal this year. We were once again overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the wider community who donated their time and/or made donations to our appeal. We would like you to be reassured that your donation has truly made a visible difference to families that are currently facing the most challenging time of their lives. Thanks to your help, over 850 children were gifted gifts, that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to have had a gift to open on Christmas day morning. Once again, from all of us to all of you - thank you so much for brightening up the festive season for so many homeless children in Nottingham. From all at Nottingham City Homes and the Temporary Accommodation Team, best wishes for a peaceful and Happy New Year.”
Nottingham County Council
“We were hugely grateful to your team to receive the gift wrapped selection boxes, due to the current cost of living crisis the demand for them from workers for children we are supporting was unprecedented this year! They were quickly collected from our office by staff members, and distributed to children and young people living in families who are experiencing significant financial hardship. They were a much appreciated, really generous gesture from you.”
Nottingham City Council
“A huge big thank you from all of us for your generous contribution of selection boxes for the families we work with. They were much appreciated and I know the families are grateful for your support and hard work in making this happen.”
Hope Nottingham
“We at Hope Nottingham are always so grateful for the continuing support we receive from Forget-Me-Notts and once more, this Christmas, they have supplied us with lots of selection boxes that we are distributing via our foodbank network and our targeted work with our children and young people. We are so grateful to them and to those who have donated these very important Christmas treats for young people in our local communities. Seeing a child's face light up, knowing they are not forgotten is a wonderful thing. Thank you!”
Upbeat Communities
“Thank you so much for the selection boxes that you gave to Upbeat Communities recently. A few weeks ago Upbeat Communities held an afternoon of Christmas activities for kids - craft, cooking and games. At the end of the afternoon parents collected their children. At this point they took selection boxes for the children who had attended the Upbeat Communities session as well as for their siblings. The remaining selection boxes have been collected alongside other food that was offered to families for Christmas. As parents will be giving the chocolates to their children we have not directly seen the impact. However, parents were very thankful indeed. As finances are very limited for those who participate in Upbeat Communities, you have provided treats that children would not otherwise have. Many thanks for making a difference for many children!”
As you can see, the selection boxes have been a great success this year and we cannot thank you enough. We are so excited for our Easter project coming up where we will be distributing sweets to help support our local vulnerable children and remind them that they are not forgotten. Although Christmas is over, there’s still more to come, so keep an eye out!