Messages of thanks from family and friends of more than 100 elderly people in the Shrewsbury area who were given Christmas hampers are continuing to pour in. The hampers were Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club’s response to the cancellation of a traditional Christmas carol service and afternoon tea due to coronavirus. A total of 105 hampers were filled with a variety of ‘Christmas goodies’ and then attractively parcelled in festive paper by a group of Rotarians.
In a message of thanks, one of the many received, Sandi Larkham, wrote: “On behalf of my mother I would like to thank the Rotary Club for the wonderful Christmas hamper she received just before the festive season. My mother is 90 years old and since Covid reared its ugly head in March she has been virtually housebound. Your unexpected gift was a delight for her and made her feel very special. Thank you to you all for everything that you do.”
Twenty nine of the Christmas hampers were donated to members of 10 Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin day centres. Lindsey Keeley, volunteer organiser of the Age UK St Giles Day Centre, wrote: “A huge thank you to Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club from the members of the Age UK St Giles Day Centre for the Christmas hampers. They were so pleased with them and very grateful for your generosity and thoughtfulness.”
And from Age UK Reabrook Day Centre came the message: “I would like to thank you and your helpers for the amazing hampers you gave to all the members of the Day Centre. They were so touched by the kind gesture from all of the Rotary Club, and thoroughly enjoyed the goodies. Hopefully next Christmas we may all be back signing carols again.”
A ‘huge thank you’ from Greenacres Day Centre referred to the ‘fabulous’ hampers and spoke of the ‘thoughtfulness and generosity’ which had brought delight to the faces of members.
Said Rotarian John Yeomans, chairman of Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club’s community and vocational committee: “From the messages received we are so happy to have boosted spirits during this difficult time. It was wonderful to be able to add a little festive joy to the lives of our older residents at a time when we are all so aware of the anxieties that the Covid pandemic has brought to us all”.
Said Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin: “It’s heart-warming to see all the comments and feedback of everyone enjoying their hampers and seeing spirits lifted during this difficult time. We send a very big thank you to the Shrewsbury Severn Rotary Club for taking the time to support local older people”.
