Posted on 15th Dec
Bags of festive food and gifts were delivered to the homes of Beaumond House Community Hospice patients in time for Christmas.
A team of volunteer drivers from Beaumond House Hospice Care, Newark, started the special doorstep delivery service on Monday, 14th December, which will eventually take day therapy staff Wilma Robinson and Dawn Bannon to around 60 homes across the district before Christmas Day.
Wilma said they wanted to come up with something extra special for the patients who have been unable to come to the hospice since March because of the pandemic.
“Normally we would have a week of Christmas parties with a lovely dinner and entertainment, which all the patients look forward to,” she said.
“We always try to make it a really special occasion and we have been really fortunate in the past to have had some wonderful singers and choirs from our local schools.
“Sadly, we can’t do that this year and so we wanted to do something to make everyone smile.”
The food in the hampers has been made in the hospice kitchen as well as provided by volunteers, who also bought the gifts. Local supermarkets and shops donated items and a nursery garden gaver pots of mini daffodils.
Students from Newark Academy fundraised to buy cakes for the hampers.
“There has been a fantastic response,” said Wilma.
“We have been overwhelmed and would like to say a massive thank you to everyone from the bottom of our hearts.”
Louise Sinclair, head of clinical services said” “We are so pleased to be able to deliver these gifts to patients and their families and we send a message wishing everyone a peaceful and safe Christmas.”
Pictured is volunteer Hilary Hamilton gets a helping hand from Sunshine Bear.
