Charitable donations
As we do every year, the MainStreet team set aside a chunk of money to give to charity at Christmas. In 2020 that seemed more important than ever – the work that voluntary organisations have done during the COVID19 pandemic has been incredible. A reminder that our ‘third sector’ often shows up first…
We appreciate too that big challenges lie ahead still. The coming months of 2021 will likely see unemployment, debt, food insecurity, stress and mental health issues grow – here and internationally.
So we decided to split our pot across several charities – supporting initiatives in the areas we live and work in, national agencies and organisations in Africa:
- Leith Gives is a collaboration of local charities, businesses and volunteers working in the Leith area to alleviate the hardship of poverty over winter 2020 and into 2021. It provides food, Christmas gifts, toiletries and IT to those in need.
- Scottish Veterans Residences provides supported housing for former members of the UK Armed Forces who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
- Kipawa provides feeding programmes and other health and counselling services for school children and families living in poverty in Kenya. It celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, coinciding with sharp increases in vulnerability due to the Coronavirus.
- Forth Radio’s Cash for Kids helps children that need it most across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk this Christmas.
Please consider supporting one, some or all of the projects above. Additional help will always be welcome at this time of year.
