There are so many Charities in need of people to help them raise funds that it is hard to know which one to support. We are used to putting a few coins in a tin that someone rattles while we are out shopping and lots of people pay a small sum each month to support a particular Charity. A Children's Charity has been offering people the chance of buying individual Christmas cards (individuelle Weihnachtskarten) which has been very successful in promoting their Charity. Some people not only give money to help a Charity but are also willing to volunteer their help in other ways. It could be helping out in the Charity shop or delivering and collecting small envelopes that people put a few pence in or standing outside the shops rattling a tin. Whatever help someone gives it is very much appreciated as all Charities depend upon the help and donations that people are willing to give. Someone who has a lot of spare time might volunteer to help out a few days in the shop. Someone else who has very little time but still wants to support a Charity may agree to volunteer just a few hours.

We are all used to getting plastic bags from various Charities pushed through our doors requesting that we fill them up with unused clothes or other items. Although these might not be any good to us they are then sorted out and put on sale in their shop. Charity shops are always full of people looking to buy second hand clothes which quite often have hardly been worn. Most Charity shops sell other items such as books, shoes, bags and in some shops even furniture. In the winter Christmas cards and calendars are usually on sale and small ornaments for the Christmas tree. Many Children's Charities appeal for people to bring in new toys and presents which can then be distributed to under privileged children. Most people are only too happy to help bring a little happiness to these children and the appeal will get an enormous response from the public. The presents will then be collected and taken away by volunteers who make sure they will be given to some needy child on Christmas Day.