We've got festive joy all 白味粉味 wrapped up

THE inside of Humans MCR's foodbank on wrapping day might seem like chaos to the untrained eye.

- GRETA SIMPSON

People have, after all, resorted to wrapping presents on the shop floor; boxes are overflowing with eyeshadow palettes and nail polish; and toys pile up in a flowing mound of toy cars, whoopee cushions and walkie talkies.

One of the crucial days of Humans' annual Christmas campaign, we are 48 hours away from delivery day, where volunteers will deliver Christmas food and presents to over 1,000 people across Greater Manchester.

Despite appearances, the whole thing is meticulously planned. The toy wishlist went up on Amazon weeks ago, and the charity has steadily been collecting donations of books, treats and toiletries since November.

The atmosphere inside was jolly, but purposeful. By the door, the trestle table was groaning with Christmas food and homemade mince pies, provided by Humans' founder Lewey Hellewell, and all the while, an eclectic mix of pop and Christmas tunes crooned out from a smart speaker.

There were over 250 families to pack for, and at least 15 volunteers within the small space, jostling for position at the wrapping tables.

Assembling the presents is one of the final pieces of the campaign puzzle, and in a way, it was the simplest, for the packers were thoroughly briefed, with a precise list of instructions to follow.

Most of them worked in pairs: one rolling out miles of wrapping paper, while the other covers all near available surfaces with pieces of Sellotape, for optimal wrapping efficiency.

There was a real atmosphere of camaraderie. Though most volunteers didn't know each other, it was great to see how quickly people bond over a shared purpose: after half an hour most were chatting easily, discussing the logistics of wrapping a toy box so large you could have used it as a dinner tray.