Volunteer for the Greenaway Foundation This Christmas: Make a Real Difference

Christmas can be hard for families, especially those who miss out on formal aid. The Greenaway Foundation helps financially challenged families in Crawley, Horley, and East Grinstead to make sure they’re supported during the festive season. As RH Uncovered’s charity partner, we’re proud to help them raise £125,000 this Christmas.

This year, they’re aiming to provide over 1,000 families with ingredients for a proper Christmas dinner and grant 4,000 Christmas wishes through gifts children have specifically asked for. Here’s how you can help make that happen.

There are several ways you can get involved with the Greenaway Foundation this Christmas:

Santa’s Helpers: 9th – 21st December
Volunteers will wrap gifts for children at a venue in Crawley. If you can spare a few hours and love getting gifts ready for the big day, this role is for you.

Elves: 23rd – 24th December (AM)
At Oriel High School, Crawley, the Elves will pack hampers with everything needed for a two-course Christmas dinner. They’ll also pair the hampers with the correct gifts and pass them to the Reindeers for delivery.

Reindeers: 24th December (AM, Christmas Eve)
The Reindeers will deliver hampers and gifts
to families in Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, and surrounding areas. This special role allows you to bring the festive spirit directly to families’ doors, helping to make their Christmas one
to remember.

Long-time Reindeer volunteer, Claire Fussell, shares her experience:

“Being a ‘Reindeer’ for Darren and the Greenaway Foundation has been an absolute pleasure. Knowing that the hampers and presents we deliver bring so much joy to families really brings home what Christmas is all about: kindness and community.”

Volunteering with the Greenaway Foundation is a chance to make a direct impact on local families who might otherwise miss out on the essentials of Christmas. Paddy Constance, who has been involved since the beginning, recalls his first experience:

“I remember loading up hampers in the freezing car park on Christmas Eve and delivering them to families. The gratitude was humbling – it really brought home how much this meant to people. It’s hard work, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”

By giving your time, you’ll help make sure local families enjoy a proper Christmas meal, and that kids who might otherwise go without will wake up to a gift they’ve wished for.

After weeks of preparation, Christmas Eve is when the magic happens. Volunteers from all roles come together to deliver the hampers and gifts, with Reindeers heading out to make the final deliveries. Mims Davies MP, a supporter since 2020, explains:

“It’s been an honour to be part of this campaign and to see the community come together. The amount of effort Darren and the team put in is amazing, and seeing the families receive their hampers is always incredibly moving.”

Sadie Evans, another long-time volunteer, describes the day as an experience that stays with you:

“When families open their doors, you can feel their gratitude. It’s something I look forward to every year – knowing that I’ve helped make someone’s Christmas a little brighter.”

If you can’t volunteer this year, there are still plenty of ways to support the Greenaway Foundation:

• Spread the Word: Share information about the Greenaway Foundation with friends, family, or anyone who might want to get involved. The more people who know about the charity, the bigger the impact we can make.
• Fundraise: Organise or take part in a fundraising event. Every penny raised goes directly to supporting local families with hampers and gifts. Whether it’s a bake sale, a sponsored run, or a raffle, your efforts will help ensure no family misses out this Christmas.
• Sponsor: There are a variety of sponsorship packages available to suit all budgets, allowing local businesses to get behind the Greenaway Foundation. Sponsoring a food item or gift package is a great way for businesses to give back to the community while making a real difference.
• Donate: No matter how small or large, every donation helps. Your contribution will go directly towards providing families with a proper Christmas dinner and making children’s gift wishes come true.

With a target of £125,000, every donation counts towards supporting local families in Crawley, Horley, and East Grinstead.

Helping out with the Greenaway Foundation’s Christmas campaign is about more than just giving food and gifts – it’s about ensuring families in our community feel supported when they need it most. As Paddy Constance puts it:

“Many of the families we’ve helped say they wouldn’t have had a Christmas without this support. Being part of that is something really special.”

Whether you volunteer, fundraise, or donate, your involvement will make a huge difference to local families this Christmas.

RH Uncovered readers, this is your chance to step up and support a cause that makes a real impact. Whether you sign up as a Santa’s Helper, an Elf, or a Reindeer – or simply donate or spread the word – you’ll be helping to ensure that no family is left behind this Christmas.

Ready to join us? Together, with the help of RH Uncovered readers and local businesses, we can make a big difference to families this Christmas.

To find out more at www.greenawayfoundation.org – register your interest, explore how you can get involved, or donate.

Together, with the help of RH Uncovered readers and local businesses, we can make a big difference to families this Christmas. Scan the QR code now to donate and help the Greenaway Foundation reach its goal.