How to help people in need in Stockholm at Christmas

Nordic Choice Hotels collects Christmas presents for children every year, donated by people who come and leave a present under the Christmas trees in their hotel lobbys. At several hotels you can also donate a Christmas card for 50 kr to be hung in the tree. All the gifts they collect are given to a local charitable organisation chosen by the hotel. The gifts are then given out to children in need. Gifts should be in good condition and something you think a child would appreciate. For security reasons, please don't wrap the present. Go to your nearest hotel and leave your gift. Read more here.

On December 18th, between 5-8pm, the non-profit organisation Nema Problemas welcomes guests to their "Christmas for everyone" festivities, which are arranged in collaboration with Quality Hotel Globe and several integration organisations. The Christmas celebrations are open for everyone - including people who are new to Sweden, established Swedes and anyone who doesn't have somewhere to celebrate - and free of charge. As well as dancing around the Christmas tree and presents for the kids, there'll be Christmas food and established Swedes will be matched up with newcomers to practice their Swedish and get to know each other.

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, lots of togetherness.

Görvälns Castle will be collecting Christmas presents to give to war-affected children and young people in Ukraine. The collection takes place on 10 December on the same day as the hotel's Christmas market, where coffee and drinks will also be served to warm you up. Leave the Christmas gift wrapped with a note indicating which gender and age it is intended to be given to.

Christmas is a dfficult time for many and loneliness, poverty and social exclusion are often intensified during the holidays. If you want to get involved in the run up to Christmas, and over Christmas itself, there are plenty of things you can do via Stadsmissionen. Start a collection via Facebook, for example, donate new and unused Christmas presents to children, young people and homeless people (collection will take place from 1-22 Dec at Fatburs Brunnsgatan 26), or clothes and household objects to one of their charity shops.

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.

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. 

Johannes congregation in Norrmalm has worked for many years donating gifts and experiences to families in economic hardship who are members of the Facebook group "Familj till familj på Norrmalm" (Family to family in Norrmalm). The congregation has chosen to collect Christmas gifts for children and teenagers. Money to buy the presents is always appreciated, but they're also happy to receive physical gifts and experiences, such as café and restaurant vouchers, admission to museums and cinema certificates. Physical Christmas presents can be handed in to the caretaker in Stefanskyrkan in Vanadislunden or to the parish office at Frejgatan 31.

We all know Santa Claus lives in the North Pole, but these days he also has gift workshops in Skarpnäck and Hjulsta. Here, the Ortens Tomtenissars organisation collects contributions that go towards Christmas presents for children and young people in the suburbs who are in need. Companies and individuals can donate any amount, which the elves then convert into Christmas presents that are given to children who contact Ortens Tomtenissar via Instagram. Should there be a surplus of donations, this will be given in the form of blankets, food and hygiene items to homeless people in Stockholm.

On Christmas Eve, Sundbyberg's swimming pool is open between 9am and midday for lonely, homeless and other needy people. Children and adults can swim in the pool and take a sauna, and there will be coffee, foot care, hairdressing and the distribution of new, warm clothes. Anyone who wants to contribute can leave clothes at either Sundbyberg's town hall or the swimming centre.