the basics are that I would like to try and establish some sort of "gifting" system. I am wondering if there is any way to set up a system where by any letters to Santa are scanned ( i know they already get collected and have a card sent in reply) and any which have addresses/names etc. get collected and then posted on a site or held in local offices etc., where patrons can then log in or visit and read what each letter has asked for, choose a letter and donate those/that gift. Now logistically I know this might be a bot of a nightmare, and details would need to be worked out about delivery etc., but I'm sure anyone willing to donate would be willing to cover postal costs.
OK so this is how i see it in the simplest terms based on it just being me available to work on it right now lol
1. each sorting office would select a letter to Santa which is the most deserving, something which touches them, which contains name age and return address.
2. its then copied and sent to me (as a registered charity, i hope anyway) to upload onto a site which has registered patrons (all checked etc.)
3. Patrons are able to browse the letters until they find one which they feel they would be able to and want to help
4. Patrons purchase (or organise the requests of the children) the gift/s
5. now this is where i get a bit stuck, I'd like to let them send them direct, but I think this isn't possible so they would have to be sent to me and then from me, on to the child/ren in question, along with a letter explaining who their Santa is, or anonymously if that's what the patron wants.
6. letter of thanks is then sent to the patron from myself, and also hopefully we would get a letter of thanks from the child/ren which could also be forwarded to the patron.
I don't know what anyone thinks as this is in its infancy.
I just think that today there are plenty of charities out three that you can buy generic gifts which aren't actually gifts at all just donations to the charity which they then spend your money as they see fit. There are also lots of drives each Christmas to "donate" presents, where you buy a gift and drop it off somewhere, unwrapped, and it is then handed out to the charities choice of needy children. Now I'm not slating these charities at all, I love what they do and I am glad they do it. However this year I wanted to give a gift to a child, on that i had chosen because I thought they were deserving of a little bit of extra Christmas magic and there is nothing out there to let me do it. You cant just fish around for kids to give gifts to, that's plain creepy and could be considered quite offensive I guess to some. So what are your initial thoughts? have I overlooked basic things? any advice on how to move forward with this would greatly appreciated, thank you in advance 
Tamara in Plymouth
