Cardathon Appeal … Thank You

Care Home Volunteers is acutely aware of the impact that the pandemic has had on care home residents. Before Christmas the charity launched a Christmas Care Home Cardathon and asked their volunteers and supporters to show residents how much they matter and how much people care by sending festive greetings and good wishes.

The response has been tremendous and heartwarming. Volunteers, friends, employees from Nationwide and Recycling Technologies in Swindon, students from Cirencester College and children from local schools and groups have been busy
making and writing cards, in total over 2000!

As well as writing cards, Nationwide has arranged the delivery of hampers full of festive treats that will bring joy and delight to many residents. Residents will be able to see the Nationwide Notes choir performing The Twelve days of Christmas
recorded via a six-way video link for true ‘social distancing’ – as well as a Christmas Carol Concert for Shelter that was sponsored by Nationwide. Jeni Burchell, Volunteer Coordinator for Care Home Volunteers in Swindon, spoke of
the impact of this initiative: ‘This has been a really difficult year for care homes and their residents. Older people in care homes particularly have faced the often devastating impact of Covid-19, coupled with spending many months without having any visitors. To be part of something that shows how much we care is really special. We cannot thank our volunteers, Nationwide, schools and supporters enough. Sending gifts and cards is so kind and will mean a great deal to these wonderful ladies and gentlemen’.

Julie Beale, Manager of The Orchards Care Home said that, ‘The arrival of the hamper, concert and so many cards will be welcomed with anticipation, joy and delight. This will mean so much to everyone, knowing that people in the local community are sending their kind thoughts, warmest wishes and positive messages and will make a world of difference to the lives of these wonderful people’.

Paul Beedham has been co-ordinating the gifts from Nationwide and told us that, “Nationwide’s culture is fundamentally about helping those in need – whether that means our members, our colleagues or the community around us. As employees, we are encouraged to volunteer our time, our energy and our expertise. One of our biggest volunteering activities in recent times has been our Seniors’ Christmas Lunches – where we invited up to 200 people from Care Homes and Seniors’ Lunch Clubs to our head office for a Christmas Dinner and entertainment – clearly not a safe thing to do at the moment. We weren’t going to let Covid beat us though and have managed to send hampers – with a DVD of recorded entertainment – that we hope brings some Christmas cheer into people’s lives. With many of us working from
home for much of the year, it also gave us a great opportunity to do something together – even if it was virtually and not in person!”