SocialMediaSanta was started by Ross McCulloch, Director of Third Sector Lab, a digital agency which specialises in working with charities, about five years ago to ensure that all those children in Scotland affected by homelessness get a Christmas present or two.
You simply click here to buy a present or make a donation to buy a school uniform for a child identified by Shelter as needing some support.
As little as £22 could buy a school uniform and £8 would help someone contact the Shelter Housing Advice helpline. Or you can buy a gift sending it to Shelter Scotland for them to distribute. All they ask is that it is unwrapped so that they can give it to the most appropriate child.
Hundreds of boys and girls have been helped over the years and you can spread the word by social media. Use one of Shelter Scotland’s graphics to tell your friends what you have been up to.
This is how it works.
1. Decide how you want to support families in need this Christmas – with a physical gift or by donating money to Shelter Scotland. A £10 donation is enough for one of Shelter’s expert advisers to help a family at risk of losing their home.
2. Donate or buy a gift from your favourite online retailer. Add to basket, use Shelter’s address at checkout (below) and add a message using the ‘gift’ option if available. (Please remember to include your details so they can send a thank you!)
3. If buying in a local toy shop: send to Shelter or drop it off at their office in Edinburgh. (Again – remember to include your details so they can thank you properly.)
4. Please ensure your gift is unwrapped, so they know what each gift is and can ensure it goes to the most appropriate child.
5. Share a picture of your gift or one of their graphics to let people know you are a Social Media Santa and use the #SocialMediaSanta hashtag across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to help spread the word!
6. Feel festive and awesome.
Send your gift unwrapped to:
#SocialMediaSanta,
Shelter Scotland,
Scotiabank House,
6 South Charlotte Street,
Edinburgh,
EH2 4AW.
Shelter will be accepting gifts until 9th December. Please ensure presents reach them by Friday 9th December, to give them time to distribute the gifts.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
