Ahead of Valentine's Day our community champions across the country have been busy sending out treats and hampers to care home residents and hardworking staff to let them know we're thinking of them.
June Walker, our Donnington Wood store's community champion, arranged for a special goodie hamper with chocolates, roses and a heart-shaped balloon to be sent to Kath and Derek Knox from Rose Manor supported living scheme in Telford.
The happy couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year and have been together for 67 years in total!
June said: "I have been supporting Trish Ball, the well being and inclusion assistant at Rose Manor, for some time now. We had a bit of a catch up and to find out about the residents were keeping and we spoke briefly about the plans for Valentine's Day.
"I asked if there were there any couples "celebrating big" and she explained about Kath and Derek. It was lovely to make them a goodie hamper to celebrate true love. This story melted my heart I can't wait to go and meet them in person when I can. Kath was made up with the hamper and said it was a lovely kind surprise from us at Asda."
Hayley Carrington, our Sutton in Ashfield store's community champion, helped set up a pen pal scheme between residents of Ashmere Care Home and pupils from St Andrew's School, building on the success of a similar scheme last Christmas.
-
Sutton in Ashfield Valentines pic 1Sutton in Ashfield Valentines pic 1 -
![]()
Sutton 2.jpgSutton 2.jpg -
![]()
Sutton 1.jpgSutton 1.jpg -
![]()
Sutton 3.jpgSutton 3.jpg -
![]()
Sutton 4.jpgSutton 4.jpg -
![]()
Sutton 5.jpgSutton 5.jpg
The home sent some wonderful pictures of residents reading the cards the children sent, and Hayley said: "As you can see from these great photos it was another huge success! We sent along an exciting selection of books, games and magazines. plus some note pads and envelopes for the residents to write back to the pupils."
Our Carlisle store's community champion Leanne Witherington teamed up with Kirkbride Primary School and Inglewood Residential Care Home to set up a pen pal scheme. She posted these pictures of residents reading their first letters from the pupils:
Alison Scrace, the community champion at our Rugby store, donated hampers full of treats for care home staff. We hope everyone at Overslade House, Dewar Close, Westside, The Chimneys and Drovers House enjoys them.
For Valentine’s Day our Aberdeen Beach community champion Pamela Yuce made a donation of cakes, tea and coffee for the residents of VSA Crosby House Care Home to enjoy on the day along with some treats for their carers who have been working incredibly hard to keep the residents safe during the pandemic.
And Jo Scott, community champion at our Pwllheli store, has been busy packaging up Valentine’s Day hampers to care homes including Tan-y-Marian, which caters for younger adults who need personal care. She said: "They have not been able to have visitors since the start of the pandemic. This care home provides a safe place and are treated like family by all the staff. We were only too happy to donate some treats. "
Annette from Willow Bank Care Home in Clayton Green popped in to collect a Valentine's hamper filled with tea, coffee, biscuits, cake and flowers for a Valentine's afternoon tea at the home. Our Clayton Green's store's community champion Jo Hilton said: "It was so lovely to catch up with them and wonderful to hear that they are all safe and well."
Christine Baldwin, community champion at our Bolton store, was delighted to give a donation of chocolates to the Old Vicarage nursing home so the residents there could celebrate Valentine's Day. We hope they have a lovely time.
Here's Odette Powell, community champion from our store in Weston-super-Mare, with Mel from Annabel House Care Home who popped into store to collect a donation for Valentine's Day to bring a little cheer to the residents.
Community champion Wendy Border from out St Leonard's-on-Sea store, made up some Valentine's hampers for the residents and staff at Streatfield House and Crest House Care Home to enjoy.
And Christine McWillams, community champion at our Southampton store, put together a Valentine's Day hamper for MHA Hampton Lodge Care Home, with each resident receiving a single red rose. We hope they liked them.
Emma Riley, community champion at our St Austell store, gave a donation of treats to Woodland House care home to help residents celebrate St Valentine's Day. She said: "It’s been a difficult few months and we are hoping that we can help bring a smile to everyone’s faces on Sunday."
Our Slough community champion Rif Khan put together some Valentine's treats and teddies to the staff and residents at Windmill Care Home as well as our ex-display Christmas tree.
Jaanice Gibon, our Cookstown store's community champion, arranged for Valentine's Day gifts to be given to the staff and residents at Weavers House Nursing Home in Cookstown.
