Donate unwanted items to help make Christmas special for vulnerable children and families

A Good Thing is an online platform that allows businesses to give things away to their local charities. Less to landfill, more to a good cause! The case study below is an example of one charity's use of our 'charity need' function, which enables users to let local organisations know exactly what their charity is looking for.

The festive season can be a joyful time, but for many children and families it’s also one of the toughest times of year.

Your unwanted items could mean the world to someone this Christmas. Follow these steps to sign up with A Good Thing today, and get matched with a local charity in need – it’s quick, simple and will make a lasting difference in your local community.

If you’re a business in the Wakefield (Yorkshire) area, you can help Kidz Aware bring festive joy to disabled children and their families. This charity is looking for donations of toys, cosy pyjamas and selection boxes.

In Scotland, the Govan Community Project in the Glasgow area is collecting toys to brighten up Christmas for families in the asylum and refugee community, while Dads Rock – also based in Glasgow – is looking for new toys to use in its weekend dads’ playgroups.

The Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) supports international and local artists in Birmingham through a dynamic programme of live theatre, cinema and other arts events. Donations of festive decorations would help the charity set the scene for a Santa’s Grotto for children this Christmas.

The South London Christmas Dinner charity is in need of gifts, soft drinks, chocolate and biscuits for its Christmas Day celebration for young adults who have no family to spend the day with.

Safe Places Shropshire, which provides a network of ‘short-term safe havens’ to people with learning disabilities, and Cats Protection in Stafford, a charity supporting cats and kittens, are both looking for donations of toys, soft toys, teddies, colouring books and pencils to use in their Christmas children tombola fundraisers.

My Mito Mission in Huddersfield is looking for toys and games to use at get-togethers for the families of children suffering from mitochondrial disease, while Growing Hope in Brockley in south-east London is looking for sensory toys of various kinds to support its free therapy services for children and young people with additional needs.

Women's Cultural Arena CIC is looking for warm and winter clothing to help individuals and families in need in High Wycombe and surrounding areas. The clothing will  be distributed throughout the festive season as part of our commitment to ensuring warmth, dignity and care for everyone.

Every donation, big or small, helps make the season brighter for someone who might otherwise go without.