FAMILIES can pick up pre-loved Christmas gifts for their children for free at an event this week.

Children’s clothes, books, toys and games will all be on offer at ‘Love Preloved’ which takes place at St Luke’s Church in Southsea on Saturday. Parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles can even wrap the presents at church, so they are ready for Christmas.

It’s just one of several ways in which worshippers in our churches will be helping those in need over Christmas.

The event, which takes place between 10am and 12noon on December 14th, was the idea of the Rev Julie Jackson, who is assistant priest at St Luke’s and a mother of two herself.

“I was thinking about how much parents can end up spending over Christmas, and also about how many toys many of us already have in our houses that we’d love to pass on to others,” she said.

“I know we can always take things to charity shops, but there is something great about donating it to a family where you know those things that your children have loved will be loved again by other children.

“I want to reduce the stigma of things being second-hand – it doesn’t matter if they aren’t brand new, so long as the gift is wanted. Hopefully it reduces the cost of Christmas for some people, and it means things can be recycled effectively.

“You don’t have to have donated anything to come along and take whatever you need. It will be separated out into toys, children’s clothes and books, as well as a wrapping paper station, and tea, coffee and cake available.”

St Matthew’s Church in Bridgemary, Gosport, is also holding events at which parents can pick up second-hand Christmas gifts for free. The Gosport and Fareham Toy Exchange happened last weekend, and will also take place on Sunday 15th December, from 12noon until 3pm. It is a free event, and donations would still be welcome.

St Faith’s Church, Lee-on-the-Solent will host a meal for those who might otherwise be on their own on Christmas Day. Volunteers from the local community will cook a full-scale Christmas dinner in the church’s kitchens and serve it to anyone who would like some company.

The festive lunch happens between 11:30am and 2pm. Anyone who would like to come should book in advance on 023 9255 6445 or email. Transport is available to and from the lunch, if needed. Details here.

The vicar, the Rev Paul Chamberlain, said: “We don’t want anyone to be on their own for all of Christmas Day, and this is a brilliant way for people from the local community to host a fun and sociable Christmas Lunch. Our guests love it, and the volunteers do too.”

St Margaret’s Church in Southsea hopes to provide Hampers of Hope for families in need once again this year. The idea is to deliver a Christmas hamper with all the trimmings, full of Christmas treats, including Yule logs, chocolates, selection boxes, stuffing, mince pies and nuts.

Last year, worshippers delivered dozens of such festive hampers in time for Christmas, and this year they’ve doubled their number of hampers they hope to deliver. Donations are still welcome and can be dropped in when the church is open. See stmagscc.uk for details.