Donate items

We appreciate every donation that we receive. Everything goes towards creating an amazing experience for our guests on Christmas Day, but any items we don't distribute on Christmas Day will be donated to local charities that help support our guests throughout the year. 

It is really easy to donate to Norwich Open Christmas. Find out more below.

What to donate

Food

• Many of our guests live alone, so we are especially grateful for small, single-serve, non-perishable food items that are easy to store, carry, and use.
• We also support guests who may be experiencing homelessness, so we welcome easy-to-open packaging, such as ring-pull tins wherever possible.
• To help us meet a wide range of needs, we kindly ask for a variety of meat and vegetarian-friendly options, as we aim to cater for different dietary requirements and preferences.
• These food items form the basis of the take-home food bags we provide, offering practical support and comfort beyond the day itself.

Examples of food items we welcome:

• Breakfast cereals (small boxes or single portions)
• Tinned foods with ring pulls (soups, beans, stews, fruit, fish, etc.)
• Pasta, rice, and ready meals - only single packets of rice and small bags of pasta 
• Instant mash and packet meals
• Biscuits, snacks, and chocolate
• Tea, coffee, sugar, and hot drinks
• Long-life milk (UHT or powdered)
• Juices and squash

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Clothes

• As we hold Norwich Open Christmas in the winter, we are especially grateful for donations of warm winter clothing for both adults and children. These items make a real difference to people who may be experiencing homelessness, living in insecure housing, or struggling to stay warm during winter.
• We kindly ask that all clothing is clean, in good condition, and suitable for immediate wear, so it can be distributed quickly and safely to those who need it most.

Examples of clothes we welcome:

• Coats and jackets (especially waterproof or warm winter coats)
• Jumpers, hoodies, and fleeces
• Trousers, jeans, and joggers 
• Hats, gloves, and scarves
• Comfortable footwear (good condition only)

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Non-food items

• Alongside food, we also rely on donations of essential non-food items that help provide warmth, dignity, and comfort, particularly for guests who may be sleeping rough or living in insecure accommodation.
• These items are carefully distributed to ensure they are both practical and appropriate for immediate use.

Examples of non-food items we welcome:

• Compact sleeping bags
• Foil emergency blankets
• Foam camping mats
• Unisex toiletries (travel or small sizes preferred)
• Hygiene essentials (soap, toothpaste, deodorant, wipes, etc.)

We are unable to accept bulky items such as standard duvets, blankets, or towels, as we have limited storage and must ensure items can be safely distributed.

Non-food donations from 2025, including blankets, hot water bottles and thermos flasks

How to donate

Simply drop off your donated items during the opening hours of any listed collection point. ​

collection points

Contact us
If you have any queries about donations, you can contact us via
Phone: 01603 510751 (choose option 2​)
Email: [email protected]