Many regard Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year. Sadly, that isn't the case for everyone. Many people in Stockholm live in poverty, are homeless, lonely or socially excluded in some way. There are numerous organisations that work tirelessly each year to provide the most vulnerable members of society with a warm, cosy, communal Christmas experience. Everyone can help in different ways, perhaps by donating Christmas gifts, volunteering or donating money to the organisations organising Christmas collections or celebrations. Below we list the various places that help people in need in the runup to, and during, Christmas in Stockholm.
How to help people in need in Stockholm at Christmas
Ways for you to help out at Christmas
Community Christmas – Christmas for everyone
For over 40 years, Folkets hus in Rågsved has organised a Christmas celebration that's free for all to attend. On Christmas Eve, they lay out a festive spread with both traditional dishes and plant-based options, along with a lucky dip, board games, musical entertainment, and a visit from Santa Claus himself. The aim is to let everyone feel the magic of Christmas and to enhance community spirit. If you want to contribute you can sign up as a volunteer.
Run for charity
Santa Run is a race that takes place on 1st December through the streets of central Stockholm, where participants dress up in Santa costumes. As well as enjoying a fun run, you contribute to helping people in need, as all proceeds from the race are distributed among charities such as the Red Cross, Stockholm City Mission, Doctors Without Borders and the Children's Cancer Foundation. The distance is either 3 or 6 km, and it's fine to walk if you don't want to run.
Three days of celebrations
Since 2007, Jul i Gemenskap - Christmas in Community - has been organising an alternative Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day where everyone is welcome. The celebration takes place indoors in several different places in Stockholm and there is a Christmas breakfast, Christmas lunch, Christmas buffet and Christmas gift giving. And, naturally, plenty of togetherness. If you want to lend a hand before or during the celebrations, you can apply to be a volunteer via Volontärbyrån.
- Donate: Swish to 9005331, marked ”Jul”
Give a present
Julhjälpen (Christmas help) is a non-profit page on Facebook for people in Stockholm who want to help other families in the lead-up to Christmas. Both large and small contributions are welcome – it can be anything from donating a Christmas gift to sending some money that goes towards buying Christmas food for those in need. In the last weeks before Christmas, help is also needed to deliver gifts and food parcels. The idea is to make it easy to contribute – because no one can do everything, but everyone can do something.
- Contribute: Send money to 0762051287, marked "Julgåva"
Christmas for all
However you're feeling in the run-up to Christmas, the Swedish Church is there for you. Congregations all around the country will be holding services, concerts and collections around Christmas - and if you can't or don't want to go to church there are digital events you can take part in.
Christmas together
Birkagården will be organising their Christmas celebrations on 26th December - an event that's been happening for more than 10 years. They lay out a Christmas buffet with space for around 100 people, and f you want to contribute you can donate clothes or money, which people in need will use to buy food and drinks.
- Donate: Swish to 1231132588, mark with ”Gemensam jul”