[thanks to several people for the suggestion behind this post]
I’ve never really "got" the sending of Christmas cards, or, really, got "into" it. It feels like a waste of overpriced paper to line the pockets of big printing companies just to save you the bother of actually picking up the phone and talking to the people you care about over the holiday season. So I won’t be sending any. But read on.
If you would have liked a Christmas card from me (and I know you!), leave your name and e-mail address using the comments form for this post. In exchange, I’ll donate £1 to Samaritans of Aberystwyth and Mid-Wales (my local Samaritans branch) in your name. Plus a £25 ‘kitty’ in the names of you all.
Samaritans volunteers will be working round the clock on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day – just like every other day in the year – to provide emotional support to those who are suffering from feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. Christmas can be a difficult time for many people, and this vital service – provided by telephone, post, and e-mail, as well as by face-to-face contacts – can, for some, make all the difference.
Technical note: You’ll probably end up classified as blogspam if you leave an empty comment, so say something, even if it’s just "Merry Christmas!"
Quite a few of my friends do this, its pretty cool.
I want to add another level to it though. I haven’t wrote you a Christmas card (’cause your one of the people I imagine wouldn’t be overly bothered). What I usually do with these friends is donate the money I would have spent on their card to a charity. SO far I’ve had a few friends off my course do this.
How about if instead of giving you (and various other friends) a card, I give you the money to give to the Samaritans… As well as what your doing?
Its a worthwhiled cause. And they need the funds more than ever around this time of year.
Oh, and Happy Christmas!
Thanks, Sarah. And yes, you’re welcome to make a donation, too, of course.
Hugs, kittens, and a very merry Christmas right back at you.
Have you guys not discovered you can buy a pack of 40 odd cards for 99p? It’s not like you have to spend £2-3 a card :P Please do make a donation for me tho ^_^
Still not really about cost, to me, though, although you’re right (and the charity shops tend to also do their own cards this time of year, so if you want the money to go [mostly] to something worthy, you can). It’s more to me about the fact that if I care about somebody, I’ll be sure to make time to call them over Christmas: why would I also want to send them a bit of paper with a picture of a robin on it? It’s just not “me.”
Thanks anyway. Will donate in your name, too. =o)
Well receiving a card can be good grounds for making a little ‘thank you, how you doing’ call anyway. Personally I just see it as a nice gesture.
Merry Christmas.
…and a Happy New Year.
An excellent choice. I’ve used the Samaritans a lot in the past, so they’re quite close to my heart as well.
bird
Charity cards are good though, and not all of us have enough money to ring our friends. Money to charity is always good though so send some money to charity for me :)
Nadolig Llawen!
Love Siandy