The drive donates Christmas presents to women and children who have fled domestic abuse By Waltham Forest Echo
Presents collected last year (credit: Waltham Forest Secret Santa)
A local charity drive collecting Christmas presents for women and children spending the holiday in domestic violence shelters is returning for its fifth year.
Local mum Jules Carey started Waltham Forest Secret Santa five years ago with a friend and now has 10 volunteer “elves” whose homes act as drop-off points around the borough.
Volunteers collect presents from the community, pack them into gift bags and distribute them to Solace, Refuge, Kiran Support Services, the Ashiana Network and modern slavery charity Medaille Trust.
Last year, the Secret Santa raised £2,000 – spent on presents from local, independent stores – and donated nearly 1,000 gift bags.
Jules told the Echo: “The idea is to give these women something a little bit luxurious, brand new and just for them, to remind them they are worth it and that their community loves them.”
The project is also currently looking for storage space as every year it “takes over [Jules’] house, making it somewhat unlivable” but she added that this is “a lovely problem to have”.
Collections for the Secret Santa are open now until 20th November.
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