Leith Gives is a collaboration of local charities, businesses and volunteers seeking to alleviate poverty hardship throughout the Leith area, during the festive period. We have pulled together to co-ordinate resources and maximise impact in order to help families in the Leith area through December and January. Leith Gives recognises that as well as those already known to the charities, there are currently an increasing number of families requiring access to this type of support due to the fallout of Covid-19.

Our objective is ambitious. We wish to invite those that need help to approach us for:

Food hampers . We plan to deliver families with 2 hampers in December and another in January when money is always tight post Christmas. Each will provide ingredients for 28 meal options for a family (or 14 for a single household) and will include suggested recipes and short video links on how to make the meals. Hampers for a family cost £25 and £15 for a single person household.

Personal hygiene products. We are aware that this is where parents often seek to make savings when on tight budgets. We aim to provide basic hygiene products such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant and feminine hygiene products, shampoo and body wash to be delivered alongside hampers.

Christmas gifts. Christmas is a particularly challenging time for those struggling financially or facing isolation and this year we know this will be felt more keenly than ever. The intention is to invite families to apply for small gifts to ensure that all children in Leith have at least one gift to open on Christmas morning. We are also seeking to identify isolated elderly in the area to provide a little minding. We also plan to provide gifts and other items people may need to celebrate Diwali, Hanukah and other festivals.

Refurbished Technology. We are aware that digital poverty exists in Leith and this has become even more pressing during lockdown with homeschooling and the use of virtual technology to keep in touch with isolated and vulnerable families. We plan to collect old laptops, phones, iPads and then recondition and redistribute them within Leith to those who are most in need.

We will all be missing out on our traditional Christmas work nights out and Secret Santas. Would you consider instead keeping up the tradition of Christmas giving by fundraising for Leith Gives? Any donations large or small will be really gratefully received.