Become a Secret Santa this St Nicholas Day, 6th December
On St Nicholas Day, 6th December, some churches in the UK, 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 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 9 days
£200 needed for a cooker
M is a single mum who has recently moved to a permanent council home and is in need of a cooker. Torch and others have already helped with decoration and flooring as M already has debt and the whole process has been quite traumatic. Consequently she is struggling with her mental health because of everything that has happened. Please can you help them with an electric cooker that would allow her to prepare proper meals for her daughter who has special needs.
£200 needed for a washing machine
X 's partner died two years ago at the age of thirty nine. He continues to struggle with both his physical and mental health. Recently his washing machine has stopped working. X has no funds to buy a new washing machine as he is currently unfit for work. Can you help?
£190 needed for a washing machine and cabinets
M is currently unwell. She has been home bound for a few months now. She unfortunately cannot work at the moment as the illness has made her immobile at the. Unfortunately her washing machine is broken and she needs help to replace it as she does not have money. She is also in need of 2 bedside cabinets.
£200 needed for food, travel and a phone
S is a single Mum, an asylum seeker, living in a hotel with her daughter. On arriving in the UK, she lived with her ex partner for 18 months and had to leave him because of Domestic violence. Before now she was accommodated in a Stella Maria Convent. Since moving into a hotel, living has become harder for her and her daughter. She needs your support for food, travel and a telephone. Your voucher donation will make a difference to their lives, reduce her anxiety and unhappiness
£200 needed for food and clothes
D is an asylum seeker living in a hotel with her family. This mum is a mother of 2 children, twin teenage boys. She had fled from her home country because of political reasons. Her uncle's son had been killed and her family had received several threats of loss of their lives. Since arriving in the UK her husband has developed a serious back problem affecting his mobility. The allowance they receive is grossly inadequate. Your food voucher donation will change their lives.
£150 needed for gas and electricity bills
S is a father of 3 children and currently he is between jobs and looking for a job his wife is also not working as she is looking for the youngest child. S had a bill of debt for gas and electricity and would like your support so he can pay this amount to the provider as his income is currently barely enough for his life expenses and rent.
£200 needed for a carpet fitting
Thank you for reading this request. S has fled Syria and has recently been granted the leave to remain in the UK with his family. He has been living in various hotels but has recently been granted a property of his own. The property he has been granted is uncarpeted and he doesn't have the finances to be able to afford to fit them. His only income is from Universal Credit and he has no savings. We have an amazing offer of free carpets, if we can get a little help fitting them.
£165 needed for delivery and installation of cooker
A is a single man living with a number of chronic health conditions including respiratory concerns and epilepsy. He is in receipt of Universal Credit, and is working hard with local organisations to work his way out of debt. His cooker has recently broken and although he has sought support to replace. We are requesting support to be able to pay the additional cost of delivery and installation.
£200 needed for an air fryer
Z is vulnerable and left his workplace having been bullied at work. This led to debt and to being further targeted in his community, exacerbating his mental health issues. He is being helped by Christians Against Poverty who have found that his current air fryer is unsafe to use and he has no other way of cooking food. We would like to bless him with an air fryer so that he can cook and to help his general wellbeing as well as showing him that people care for his welfare.