Christmas is the loneliest time of the year for older people, with those who have been widowed feeling it the most. For many it brings back too many memories of people who have passed away and of happier times.
Whilst most of us in the UK sat down with family and friends over the Christmas season an estimated half a million elderly spent it without family or friends. But Staffordshire based Community Interest Company Cherishers were determined to ensure that this was not the case in their own community.
In the spirit of Christmas, the team at Cherishers shared the goodwill among their community:
- Packed & Donated Food Hampers for young adults who have experienced homelessness.
- Donated Turkeys & Festive Food to a Women’s Refuge. These provisions made a huge difference to the women & children who were fleeing abuse this Christmas
- Donated Molton Brown Christmas Crackers & other pamper gifts for abused women.
- Visited & delivered gifts to the local elderly in sheltered accommodation.
- Donated 200 selection boxes to children from low-income families.
- Donated 100 boxes of quality Christmas Biscuits
- Sent handwritten befriending Christmas cards to the elderly within the community
- Made visits to the elderly over the Christmas period
Julie Edensor, CEO of Cherishers 811 CIC commented “Cherishers works throughout the year to end the loneliness within our community. Many of us look forward to Christmas in anticipation of having a lovely time with those we love, but unfortunately that’s not how it is for some older people, especially if they are already feeling sad and alone. To combat loneliness Cherishers ensures that we are there for those who find themselves in this situation and for all the elderly in our community who are feeling lonely or troubled in the run up to Christmas. That’s why we were determined more than ever to be there for anyone who would otherwise be alone.”
To see the heart-warming impact made by the Cherishers team, watch the video: