29/10/2026
Sometimes the smallest act of kindness can mean more than you'll ever know.
Christmas Eve 2024. My children and I were homeless, living in temporary accommodation.
That evening, someone knocked on our door and handed my youngest son, a bag containing a remote-controlled car. They gave me a box of chocolates.
Almost two years later, I still remember that knock at the door.
I've seen a post today about Dunelm's Delivering Joy Christmas appeal, and it brought those memories flooding back.
I wanted to share our experience because I know first-hand just how much these schemes can mean to families going through difficult times.
We hadn't become homeless through anything we'd done wrong. Our landlord had sadly passed away, and his wife had decided to sell the house we'd been living in.
What followed was one of the most financially and emotionally challenging periods of our lives.
Something people don't always realise is just how expensive being homeless can be.
All our belongings were in storage, costing a small fortune every month.
Our utility bills were extortionate because we couldn't arrange normal contracts and tariffs.
We were placed around 30 minutes away from our previous home. The school run became a 1 hour and 45 minute round trip, twice a day. That's three and a half hours travelling every school day, with all the additional fuel costs.
Changing our address meant additional car insurance costs. Household contracts, such as Sky, came with early termination charges because, although the company could technically transfer the service, the temporary accommodation wouldn't allow the installation.
We were spending more money because we were homeless, at the very time we could least afford it.
And then there was the emotional impact.
I had to rehome our cats, and our dog lived with my mum for six months because pets weren't allowed.
The accommodation was basic and uncomfortable. Nothing felt like home.
We received constant calls, sometimes every other day and even at weekends, asking whether we'd found somewhere to live. There was also the worry that if we weren't present during repeated council visits, our need for accommodation could be questioned.
All while trying to keep life as normal as possible for the children.
I was exhausted, stressed and struggling financially. The uncertainty was relentless.
And then, on Christmas Eve, those gifts arrived.
They'd been donated through a Christmas giving scheme, very much like Dunelm's Delivering Joy.
A remote-controlled car and a box of chocolates might seem like small things, but to us, at that moment, they meant so much more.
Someone who didn't know us had thought about us. Someone cared enough to make our Christmas a little brighter.
And that's something I've never forgotten.
When I read about children asking for things like bedding, lunchboxes, teddy bears or even a packet of sweets through Dunelm's appeal, it reminded me that we never truly know what another family might be going through.
Homelessness and financial hardship can happen to anyone, sometimes through circumstances completely outside their control.
Having a roof over your head doesn't necessarily mean you have the security, stability or comfort of a home.
At 4 Cheeky Monkeys, we believe everyone deserves kindness, dignity and somewhere they feel welcome.
That's why I wanted to share this appeal.
If you're able to, please consider visiting a participating Dunelm store, choosing a gift tag from their Delivering Joy Christmas tree and buying a gift for someone who needs a little kindness this Christmas.
It doesn't need to be expensive.
Because I've been the person on the receiving end of one of these schemes, and I can tell you that it's not about the monetary value. It's about knowing someone cares.
To whoever donated those gifts to us at Christmas 2024, thank you. You probably have no idea how much your kindness meant.
And to anyone thinking of taking part in this year's appeal, please do if you can.
Because somewhere, there might be another family just like mine, who will still remember your kindness years from now.
Jeneane
