VERA SCHOOL for Learners with Autism

HOW IT ALL STARTED ... CHILDREN’S
CHRISTMAS PUDDING MIX

What follows is the story of “THE CHILDREN’S Christmas PUDDING MIX”.

The Children’s Christmas had its inception in the Spring of 1965 when, spurred on by the ideals of Alex and Jean McGregor, a group of public-spirited ladies met to mix the first Christmas puddings at the McGregor home in Tokai. Their intention was to raise funds by selling them to help a needy Crèche at Raapkraal.

Each person contributed a different ingredient, and the final outcome of this first official
mix was 12 large puddings – which were taken home to be steamed on family stoves, and subsequently sold.

The success of this philanthropic gesture led to more ambitious efforts, and from humble beginnings, the Children’s Christmas has grown to considerable proportions. Today over
3 000 puddings are produced annually, necessitating the supply of huge quantities of ingredients namely margarine, flour, breadcrumbs, cake fruit mix, glace cherries, sugar, nutmeg, mixed spice, salt, carrots, potatoes, brandy, stout, eggs and bicarbonate of soda.

Various sponsors, amongst them SA Breweries, who have a long-standing relationship with
The Children’s Christmas donate some of these ingredients.

The Children’s Christmas Puddings are mixed entirely by hand, in baths, according to Mrs. McGregor’s original recipe. Many volunteers come together for a week every year to
weigh, pour, count, chop, grate, carry and mix, - quite a logistical nightmare, but all performed in an atmosphere of great jollity.

This year, the charities that will benefit from the sales of Christmas Puddings are: -

• Vera School for Learners with Autism
• Woodside Sanctuary for children with profound mental and physical handicap
• Leliebloem House for Children in need of care
• Bel Porto School
• Friends Day Centre

We ask you to support our fundraising effort!