We're working with schools to put smiles on faces of care home residents this Christmas
Our fabulous community champions – like Shaheen Memon from our Leicester Abbey Lane store pictured below – have been busy working with local schools to make sure elderly residents at care homes and nursing homes receive fantastic handmade Christmas cards this year.
Shaheen said the cards, designed and made by the children of Woolden Hill Primary School and popped into our special post box in store, would be delivered to the residents of Hadrian House Care Home.
She said: "The children have been really creative and decided to use their own coloured cards to create their masterpieces. I’m sure the residents will love them, bringing some festive joy in these difficult times."
At our Westwood store in Belfast, community champion Noeleen McMahon has teamed up with pupils from St Kevin’s Primary School to write personalised Christmas cards for residents of a local nursing home.
Trisha Browne, from Brooklands Nursing Home, said: “We couldn’t wait any longer, so we showed a couple of our residents their Christmas cards early – there honestly wasn’t a dry eye in the house! They were so delighted to receive something so kind and thoughtful."
Noeleen delivered crayons, books and markers to help the children make the cards extra special.
She said: "My colleagues and I just thought it would be a lovely thing to do to brighten up the Christmas period for the residents.
"The personalisation of the cards really brings a more sentimental value to the gift – we hope the residents love their little keepsake from a Christmas like no other!"
The school's headteacher Fiona Keegan said: "The children really enjoyed writing the cards knowing that they would bring joy and comfort to the residents. This has been a great way to connect two generations in these times of uncertainty and loneliness."
Our Cramlington store's community champion Jackie Burt teamed up with Hareside and Beaconhill Primary Schools to spread some much-needed festive cheer, making and distributing cards to local care home residents including 92-year-old Doris, pictured here:
Jackie, who also donated some Christmas goodies to Doris and her friends at the MHA Harwood Court Care Home, said: "We work closely with both schools and handed out the cards to them. The children then coloured them all in and wrote little messages on the back for the residents. I'm sure everyone in the care home loved them."
Ann from the home collected the cards from a special post box in our store said it was a lovely gesture especially in these difficult times. She said: "The residents loved them – the drawings done by the children really made them smile. Some of them don't get many cards so to get a personal one written by the children was really nice."
Here's Hayley Carrington, above, community champion at our Sutton-in-Ashfield store, with a batch of Christmas cards made by the pupils of St Andrew's School which will be delivered to Ashmere Care Home.
Hayley, who donated arts and crafts to the school for the project, said: "The kids have done a fab job in making all these lovely cards. I can't wait to see the residents' reactions."
Christine Baldwin, our Bolton store's community champion was delighted to receive these fabulous Christmas cards, above, designed by talented Year 4 pupils from Sharples Primary School which will be given to the residents of Southlands Nursing Home. Christine said: "Photographs and names of the residents were given to the children who then designed the Christmas cards for them. Don't they look fantastic!"
And our Blackburn store's community champion Lynne Kozlowski shared this photo, above, of all the wonderful cards made by talented local children and posted in our store's post box. They will be delivered to East Lancashire Hospice together with with some chocolates and biscuits.
https://www.facebook.com/asdaclactononsea/posts/1646185322228264
Amy Openshaw, community champion at our Clacton-on-Sea store, says the cards, above, made by pupils from Holland Haven Primary School for residents at Corner House Residential Home are "beautiful."
She said: "The pupils have gone above and beyond – not only have they made cards, they've also taken the time to write letters too. I'm so excited to get them to the residents and I’m sure they'll be thrilled!
https://www.facebook.com/242047499478774/posts/1374321212918058Fiona Minton, community champion at our Wolstanton store, thanked the children of Ellison Primary School for making these fantastic cards, above, for the residents of nearby Addlington House. She said: "Having to miss out on singing for the residents this year the classes were happy to send their good wishes in another way."
https://www.facebook.com/930295660419136/posts/3538196676295675Our Reddish store's community champion Laura Biddulph was happy to donate art and craft supplies to pupils at St Mary's School who've been making Christmas cards and drawing pictures for Reinbeck Care Home. She said: "I think it's wonderful to bring young and senior people together with the cards and I'm excited to see the amazing artwork!"
https://www.facebook.com/1731038770500797/posts/2872565019681494At our Longwell Green store in Bristol, community champion Susan Grant, pictured above, thanked the pupils of Parkwell Primary School's breakfast club for making and sending in some fantastic Christmas cards which will be distributed to local care homes.
And Emma Riley, community champion at our St Austell store, has thanked all the kind customers and colleagues who've posted homemade Christmas cards through the in-store postbox which will be delivered to the residents of Woodland Road Care Home.
She said: "We’ve had some lovely cards come in which I'm sure will put a smile on the residents' faces. The post box will remain in the foyer until Monday 21st December. We were also delighted to provide the the home with a donation for their Christmas raffle."