24 Dec 2018 Community

Hollybank think of Kirkwood this Christmas

Support workers from Hollybank Trust thought of Kirkwood this year when organising their Secret Santa – choosing to donate gifts to the patients on Kirkwood’s In-Patient Unit rather receive something for themselves.

Members of the team at Conkers, part of Hollybank Trust, went the extra mile as they bought gifts for the patients on Kirkwood’s In-Patient Unit to open this Christmas.

Conkers is the third of three bungalow residential homes in The Meadows, based at the main Hollybank Trust site at Roe Head Road.

The residential home is managed by a small team of support workers who care for seven adults.

Senior Support Workers, Kirsty McGrath and Mick Hewitt, came down to the Hospice with 23-year-old Brandon to give Kirkwood’s Sister Fran the gifts ready for Christmas.

Kirsty, Mick and Brandon handing over the gifts to Kirkwood nurses

 

Mick said: “I had a mini brainwave to donate Christmas gifts to Kirkwood rather than do Secret Santa this year. In the end we decided to do both, it was something nice to do.”

Buying the presents was especially important for Kirsty, who has a personal connection with Kirkwood Hospice.

Kirsty said: “I’ve had three relatives cared for here at Kirkwood, it really is amazing.”

The team, in addition to buying their Secret Santa presents, have bought patients festive treats, trinkets and toiletries to be handed out on Christmas Eve by Santa himself!

When speaking of the heart warming donation, Community Fundraiser, Lyndsey Wroe, said: “Here at Kirkwood, we try to make Christmas a really special time for our patients and their families.

“It’s important to give patients at Kirkwood the memories they deserve with their families during this special time of year.

“We can’t thank Hollybank Trust enough. It’s not often that you see charities helping other charities, but it’s all about helping the local community and this will mean so much to our patients.”