Please donate a gift for children at the Oxford Women's Refuge 
This Christmas, St Matthew’s and All Saints’ are once more supporting the Women’s Refuge in Oxford by providing gifts for mothers to give to their children on Christmas day.
Some people will have already expended their Christmas budget on providing gifts for injured Ukrainian soldiers. Please do not feel under any pressure to provide a further gift for a child at the Refuge. If you do feel able to donate a gift for a child at the Refuge, please read on for instructions.
Why is there a need for gifts?
As you might imagine, women and their children tend to flee to the refuge with very few belongings. So possessions are scarce and spare cash is tight for these families. Unfortunately, domestic violence is particularly prevalent over the Christmas period so the refuge often experiences an influx then. Having a decent gift to give their child at Christmas can make an enormous difference to these mothers and children.
Gifts are also used for a Christmas party for the families, and as ‘welcome’ gifts for children coming to the Refuge throughout the year.
What are the timings?
Please bring your gift to one of our services on Sunday 30 November. The service at All Saints’, Chilton starts at 9.30am. The service at St Matthew’s, Harwell starts at 10.30am.
Alternatively, you can hand your gift in at the Church Office by 1pm on Thursday 27 November. The office is normally open Monday-Thursday 9am-2pm and is up the spiral staircase near the back of St. Matthew’s church, Harwell.
What kind of gifts are needed?
This year we are appealing for donations of toys/gifts suitable for children aged 3-8 years (the easiest ages to buy for!). See the list below for the number of children of each sex and age who are expected to be in residence at the Refuge at Christmas. Items with violent connotations (e.g. with images of swords, guns, etc) would not be a good idea, for obvious reasons.
The toys should be new and unwrapped. Gifts for the mothers at the Refuge are not required.
Toys suitable for young children should be deemed as safe for those ages – check the label/packaging before you buy.
These are the children we need to cover this year:
PRE-SCHOOL AGE:
Boy aged 3 years
PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE:
Boy aged 5 years
2 x Girls aged 5 years
Girl aged 7 years
3 x Girls aged 8 years
If you would like advice about what to donate, feel free to contact Jane Woolley on Tel 22 10 30 or janemn.woolley@hotmail.co.uk.
Chilton PCC would like any monetary gifts to be donated to the SeeSaw Charity which provides grief support for the children of Oxfordshire.