Become a Secret Santa this St Nicholas Day, 6th December
On St Nicholas Day, 6th December, Churches in England and across the globe commemorate St Nicholas of Myra – a 4th Century Bishop from Turkey – whose journey from Saint to Santa began with his legend for secret gift giving to those in need.
The Rt. Revd. Arun Arora, Bishop of Kirkstall, has written the Archbishop of York's Advent Book Stick with Love, and the reflection today speaks of St Nicholas, and the generosity of giving secretly to those in need.
As one of the founding trustees of Acts 435, the Rt. Revd. Arun Arora said: “St Nicholas Day is an opportunity to reclaim the more secretive aspect of giving and the invitation for each of us to be a Secret Santa – perhaps through random acts of kindness and giving anonymously to people we know or through organised charities such as Acts 435.
“While still a young man Nicholas became known for his generosity to those in need, for rescuing sailors in the Aegean sea, and his concern for the destitute. His Saints Day is marked across the globe each year in different ways, not least in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and northern France, who on 6th December celebrate the festival of Sinter Klass.
“Here in the UK at a time when so many people are in need, Acts 435 puts people who want to help in touch with people who are in need, through a network of churches and local charities. Acts 435 enables virtual, online giving for specific needs. 100% of what is donated via Acts 435 goes directly to those in need. My encouragement to everyone on December 6th, and for this Christmas, is simply: “Be more St Nic!”
In many countries St Nicholas Day is celebrated by filling empty shoes with sweets, nuts and fruit but a gift through Acts 435 can make a bigger difference, helping someone in a crisis or in poverty with a specific item that they so desperately need.
Could you be "more St Nic" and give anonymously today towards the specific need of someone who is in need today?
Give to an urgent need today!
The average time for a need to be fully funded is currently 7 days
£200 needed for electric and gas bills
O is a single mother who has a disabled son and they recently travelled to another city for specialised medical care. While her son is recovering from the surgery, the family is facing financial strain as they solely rely on benefits and most of their resources have been allocated to medical expenses. Your support with electric and gas bills would provide much needed relief to this resilient family, allowing O to focus on her son's recovery without the added burden of financial worry.
£200 needed for carpet fitting
This young woman recently obtained a council flat and the existing floor coverings are effectively non-existent. She was made redundant before Christmas and is trying to find full-time employment, but has only currently managed to find part-time work and has a benefit claim pending. Whilst floor coverings are being supplied to her, this young woman cannot afford to have them fitted. Your help in funding this would make a huge difference to her and transform where she lives. Thank you.
£110 needed for food, electric and gas
H is a single man who struggles with anxiety and depression and, as a result, is unable to find employment. He has found himself struggling with his finances at the moment, in particular his gas, electric and food, but his only source of income is Universal Credit. If you are able to help H to financially get through this current situation, he will be so grateful. Thank you so much.
£200 needed for a washing machine
F and her husband were asylum seekers who have recently been granted leave to remain. This means they have to leave their temporary accommodation immediately. They have secured a Social Housing flat, but it is unfurnished. F and her husband have been supported with a bed and cooker, but there is no washing machine. F has extreme obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) so not being able to keep her clothes and bedding clean is particularly difficult. As asylum seekers, they weren't allowed to work, so they have very little financially.
£200 needed for kitchen utensils, bedroom furniture and a dining table and chairs
M and her husband, who have been homeless for a while, were recently offered temporary shared accommodation and have now moved in. M says that when they moved in, all they had was a bed and nothing else. She is struggling financially to purchase kitchen utensils, a wardrobe and chest of drawers, an armchair to ease her back pains, some bedding, and a dining table and chairs.
£180 needed for a sofa, two chest of drawers and a cabinet
A, who is a single mum of four children, has left her home and town, due to fleeing domestic, and moved to a completely knew area. She has used all the money she had, plus all her savings, to help them settle in the new town. A's kids were very upset, as they had to leave all their belongings at the old house, but mum explained that all she wanted was their safety. Mum needs support to purchase a sofa, two chest of drawers and a cabinet to help them settle without much of a struggle.
£200 needed for a bed and mattress, fridge freezer, coffee table, iron and ironing board
L is a single lady with two children who has come to the UK to work in the care industry on the shortage of workers scheme. She has no recourse to public funds, hence no support at all from anyone at the moment, and her income is not enough to sustain the family. L is currently struggling to pay for all the bills and furnish the house for them to settle in. Mum is requesting our support to purchase a fridge freezer, iron and board, a bed and mattress for her children, and a coffee table.
£200 needed for an ID card, passport, statement of NHS history and travel costs
Our client, who suffers from hypertension and depression, is an asylum seeker from Pakistan who has been resident in the UK for twenty years. He has obtained charitable funding to pay for a solicitor who will represent his asylum appeal. However, there are additional costs that our client cannot meet, as he is reliant on friends for accommodation, food and basic needs. He requires an ID card and passport from his country of origin, a statement of his NHS history and travel costs to the High commission. Our client hopes for permission to remain and to work in haematology within the NHS.
£200 needed for gas, electric and food
K and his wife, who have two children, are not working at the moment and have no recourse to public funds. K has managed to find a job and is due to start as soon as all the checks and insurance paperwork is clear. He is currently struggling financially to top-up his gas and electric, which has made him go into arrears. K is also struggling to provide food for his family. He needs help to put food on the table, clear his gas and electric arrears, and top-up for now as he waits to start work.