Edenmore Nursing Home in Ilfracombe, North Devon, have been overwhelmed by an outpouring of generosity this Christmas, after receiving over £500 worth of Christmas gifts for its residents (fondly known as family members), through a TikTok campaign run by a relative of a person living in the care home.
The campaign was started by Charmain Lovett, whose dad, Harry, lives at Edenmore.
In early November, Charmain shared a short video on TikTok, inviting anyone who
was able to donate a small gift to the family members via an Amazon wish list
she had put together.
While Edenmore Nursing Home ensures each family member receive a
personalised Christmas gift from the team, Charmain wanted to set up her own
initiative so the home might receive a collection of shared gifts, activities
and treats for everyone to enjoy together. The idea was inspired in part by an
online friend of Charmain’s, who had previously run a similar campaign for her
nan, Beryl, called Beryl’s Christmas.
The response to the campaign was immediate. Charmain shared: ‘Literally
within the first 24 hours, all of it had been sold almost, so I just kept
topping it up [the wish list] with little bits and pieces. People are just
amazing. I can’t wrap my head around it.’
For Charmain, the campaign was deeply personal: ‘It's a bit of a
different one for us this Christmas, because my mum passed away earlier on in
the year. Gayle, the home manager at Edenmore, was just brilliant and really
supportive of me, my brother Will, and dad in that time. So I just thought it'd
be a really nice thing to do something nice back for them.’
Harry has lived at Edenmore since April this year. Described as ‘a
proper London boy’ by his daughter, Harry was a chauffeur and worked for
Rolls-Royce for a time.
Charmain shared: ‘One thing that he's always been almost obsessive about
is making sure that he knows where his car keys are. So Gayle's husband made
him a little set with a tag saying Harry's keys. So he's always got his keys in
his pocket.’
Harry also worked in construction and labouring, and loves fixing
things, so the home also got him a plastic toolbox set to tinker with around
the home.
‘It was those sorts of things that made a big difference to dad's
happiness there. So when I was doing the wish list, I was making sure that I
was putting activity items in as well. So it wasn't all just about chocolates
and body spray!’
The gifts have now been dropped off at the home, along with notes from
the senders, to be sorted for Christmas Day.
Gayle, Home Manager, shared: ‘It means everything to the team and I that
Charmain thought of us. We are all truly touched by the kindness and generosity
of everyone who sent a gift. Thank you from all of us at Edenmore.’
The home’s team and family members have been busy preparing for the festive celebrations over the last few weeks, painting decorations, writing their Christmas cards and hosting their own carols-by-candlelight.
Edenmore Nursing Home offers the reassurance of 24-hour nursing care so
that help is always available when needed, without delays or waiting for
support to arrive. To find out more, visit https://www.edenmorenursinghome.com/
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