This is part of our ongoing guide to Christmas gifts available to order from the traders you can find at Levenshulme Market and have delivered direct to your home. You can read the whole of the guide here.
The importance of community has been a big theme this year, with many of us spending more time than we ordinarily would in our neighbourhood, often relying on the generosity of local residents and businesses to get by. So, as we move into the gifting season, why not take the opportunity to give something back by donating to one of the charities doing work in Levenshulme and the wider area?
Most of us are looking forward to Christmas as a period of respite from a tough 2020, but for thousands of people this period represents a time of acute difficulty, not just because of the restrictions the coronavirus pandemic have brought about but also due to poverty, homelessness and other big social issues that haven’t gone away during lockdown.
So here are five charities close to our hearts, all doing excellent work and each of which we recommend you give a little something to if you can.
1. Winter Wellbeing from Inspire
The great team Levenshulme Inspire is running a Winter Wellbeing campaign, supporting elderly people in Levenshulme and Gorton this Christmas. As well as your financial donations there are a number of local drop off spots where you can give items. They’re specifically after:
- Small-sized smellies
- Hand cream
- Christmas decorations
- Chocolates
- Biscuits
- Instant drinks (e.g. hot chocolate/cappuccino sachets)
- Slipper socks
- Christmas edition magazines
2. The Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity
This Christmas, we’ve partnered with the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity to bring you a festive playlist specially curated for Levy Market by Andy Burnham. Please have a listen and make a donation to help them continue their valuable work supporting those in Greater Manchester who are experiencing homelessness.
3. Rethink Rebuild
Based down the road in Longsight, Rethink Rebuild do great work to improve the lives and promote the aspirations of the UK’s Syrian community, including their annual flagship Celebrating Syria Festival which showcases Syrian talent and bringing people together to experience Syrian arts and culture. All donations are used to support programmes like these as well as their advocacy work, community support initiatives and education projects.
4. Every Month Manchester
Earlier this year we worked with Every Month to source sanitary products from our customers to create period packs for women experiencing poverty. Annoyingly, a combination of bad weather and the November lockdown put an early end to things, but you can make both a financial donation or send them unsealed packs of
- menstrual pads
- non applicator tampons
- applicator tampons
all of which will be given to those who need them the most.
5. Levenshulme Old Library
For those few who don’t know, Levenshulme Old Library is our local community arts centre which is housed in the beautiful former library building. All donations go towards the preservation of this iconic piece of neighbourhood heritage and funding projects like Levy Fringe that bring together our community and play such an important role in making the area what it is.