London has just about every kind of Christmas tree you could hope for. For the revolving door of changing themes (this year donning the style of Wicked), we’ve got St Pancras. For the truly gigantic, tallest customer in the room, we’ve got Bishopsgate Square. For the glitter and sparkle, we’ve got Covent Garden, we’ve got Leadenhall, we’ve got Battersea Power Station, and we’ve got the recent favourite ‘Tree Of Kindness’ at Charing Cross – which has been a point of contact for Londoners to provide gifts and essential items for those in need at a time of year where it’s particularly necessary.
Working with the charity Social Bite, which started as a mission to end homelessness, the Clermont hotel in Charing Cross has brought the ‘Tree Of Kindness’ back for the fourth year running to shine at Central London and promote the wonderful cause once more.
Social Bite invites anyone down to donate Christmas gifts at the tree, or simply provide any essential items – from bedding to toiletries to clothing to toys for children – to give to those who need them more. You can check out the gift wishlist for the trees – which are also set up in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Dundee – as well as recommendations of what not to donate (think alcohol and baked goods) and further instructions. Be sure to use gift bags over wrapping paper, as it’s essential for staff to see what is being donated for security purposes, and then pop a message in for the recipient and you’ll be all set.
Over the last few years, the work between the Clermont and Social Bite with the ‘Tree Of Kindness’ has meant that over 10,000 gifts have been collected to give to children to open on Christmas Day.
Check out the shining Christmas ‘Tree of Kindness’ outside Clermont Charing Cross (Junction of the Strand / Villiers Street), and donate gifts and essential items to the Social Bite charity. You can read more about their mission here.