Oxford

Group run

Christmas, delivered

8 GoodGymers made their way to help the Oxford Mutual Aid in Oxford.

  • Anwen Greenaway
  • Liverpool runner
  • Sarah Morris
  • Jessica Lorimer
  • Sarah McFadden
  • Venetia Lipscombe
  • Hattie Elvins
  • Ben Gremson
 
Wednesday, 15th of December 2021
 
Led by Anwen Greenaway

If wrapping Christmas gifts while listening to a cheesy Christmas playlist doesn't get you feeling festive then what will?!

Last night we took on our 2nd bumper session picking, packing and wrapping Christmas gifts for households which will be relying on the Oxford Mutual Aid food bank this Christmas. There's no wasted space at the food bank, so the first task was to create some room to work in. We hauled crates and crates of presents and chocolate selection boxes out from the end of the hall, organising the gifts by age/gender/unisex etc then once we could see what we'd got we were able to set to work selecting presents.

We had a HUMUNGOUS master list with the break-down of every family, which looked pretty overwhelming at first, but as with most things once we got into the work it was easier than it looked. Just focus on one line at a time and don't get overwhelmed by the scale of the task is always the best approach.

Getting stuck in (not literally - no tangled sellotape this week!) like the pros we are, the hall was soon swimming in wrapping paper and sticky tape, with difficult decisions being taken left, right and centre: Would a female child requesting girly stuff prefer a unicorn back pack or a jewellery set? Cuddly dinosaur or hat and mitten set for a baby?

In total 36 household gift parcels were picked, packed and wrapped, and we also got to play Santa, delivering 6 of the pressies to delighted recipients.

Just one more Wednesday before Christmas now, so Happy Christmas to those of you who we won't see before Christmas Day!

Report written by Anwen Greenaway


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