Invitation to be Santa for elderly people

By Amanda Wilkins - 21 November 2023

Charity

A Swindon home care company will spread festive cheer to older people this Christmas.

Home Instead Swindon and Vale of White Horse is once again igniting the holiday spirit with its annual ‘Be a Santa’ gift-giving campaign.

Now in its fifth year, the initiative aims to bring joy to older adults in the community, especially those spending Christmas alone or in need of a seasonal uplift.

Last year the campaign received an overwhelming response, resulting in over 5,000 donations from schools, supermarkets, churches, and numerous individuals and small organisations.

The contributions led to the distribution of more than 400 ‘Santa-grams’ and gifts, and this year the organisers want to make the campaign even bigger and better.

Home Instead is calling on people to ‘Be a Santa’ by donating thoughtful gifts that can fit into an A4-sized envelope.

From arts and crafts to games and sweet treats, every contribution, no matter the size, will help make a big difference to someone's Christmas.

Cat Attewell, Community Engagement Officer at Home Instead, said: “Each year we are dedicated to enhancing the lives of older people in our community.

"The ‘Be a Santa’ campaign brings so much joy to older people during the Christmas season and we want to help make sure that no older adult feels alone during the holidays.

“Please get involved if you can! It is a wonderful way to share festive joy with older people in our communities and we welcome everyone to join us in spreading festive happiness this Christmas.”

To get involved in the festive campaign, people can contact the Home Instead team for a donation collection, which will run from Monday 27 November to Friday 8 December.

The Home Instead 'elves' are also on hand to visit local schools and groups wishig to make donations. 

Alternatively, people can donate gifts to the local office at Shrivenham Hundred Business Park, 29c, Majors Rd, Watchfield, Swindon SN6 8TZ.

People interested in making a gift donation can email cat.attewell@homeinsteadswindon.co.uk or call 01793 232585.

More information aboiut the campaign and the services Home Instead Swindon and Vale of White Horse offer can be obtained by calling  01793 988537 or visiting https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/swindon/

Your Comments

Be the first to comment on this article

Login or Register to post a comment on this article

Subscribe to The Link

Registered in England & Wales. No: 4513027, Positive Media Group, Old Bank House, 5 Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4BJ