They found a way to help families with children for Christmas. Now it is already full.

They started their Christmas Help concept in Bærum. They are now fully subscribed and hope that the scheme can be extended to other municipalities.

– Excuse me, can you imagine helping a family with children at Christmas?

This question causes many people to stop and talk to the two women outside the grocery store in Jar.

Lucia Scaven (23) and Ane-Marte Weng (41) believe they attacked people in need who wanted to help others.

For many, things are difficult now in the age of animals. 6 in 10 people in poor financial condition do not know if they will be able to celebrate Christmas this year. According to the Salvation Army.

About 600,000 Norwegians fear Christmas, According to UNICEF Norway’s annual Christmas survey. The survey shows that people with low incomes and families with children are particularly pessimistic.

But on the other end, there are many people who want to contribute. The Christmas Helpers in Bærum started a concept.

– We live in one of the wealthiest municipalities in the country, in a place of great diversity. For a long time I wanted to do something, but it did not materialize. Before now, Skaven says.

This is how it works

The project is called “Christmas in a Box”. It works like this:

• Families register as donors.
• They are anonymously matched with recipient families who send food and gift greetings for Christmas.
• It is the social services and NGOs in the municipality that select the recipient families.
• In a box, the donor family collects the food and gifts they have bought and delivers the box just before Christmas.
• The recipient’s family collects their box at the same location that evening.

– You choose how much you want to do it, says Skaven.

Options for the box include some Christmas food, sweets and some snacks and Christmas gifts for children over NOK 300 each.

Inspired by Stavanger

The two Christmas helpers didn’t know each other before. But both turned to NGOs to find out what was needed in the municipality. They usually work as consultants. And through their network of digital minds and extensive research, they spent a year getting the logistics right.

They got inspiration and advice from the “Gi en Jul” organization in Stavanger. Together with social services in the municipality, they finally found their own form.

– Even if you don’t have direct contact with the family you’re helping, it’s helping personally, says Skaven.

Already fully subscribed

The duo’s offer comes in addition to other efforts of Christmas help in the municipality. They promise to be serious. They have their own company number, bank account and close cooperation with social services and voluntary organizations in the municipality.

– Weng says that through other personal efforts, you may have been able to help one person, but received thousands of inquiries and failed to help many more.

And even before Christmas begins, “Christmas in a Box” has gotten all the donor families they need this year. They are still accepting donations and now the offer may be extended to other municipalities. They have received many inquiries from people in Oslo and other municipalities who want to provide Christmas help.

– We hope to be able to expand the offer in our municipality already next year, because there is a demand here, says Skaven.

No charge

All boxes should be delivered and received on December 21st.

And if the boxes are left over, they are donated to the Salvation Army, which takes care of food and gifts for later use.

– What do you get from doing this?

– No money, but a lot of happiness. It’s an opportunity to do something for others, directly to someone who needs Christmas help, Weng says.