Caring Teen And Hartlepool Home Take On Christmas Loneliness

CARING teen Beth Allison has teamed up with Queens Meadow Care Home to provide gifts for lonely elderly people this Christmas.

The 19-year-old Hartlepool special needs worker approached the care home to help make shoeboxes filled with donations from the public.

She is hoping to make at least 180 boxes and distribute them to elderly residents in the Teesside area who have no one to share the festive holiday with.

Beth, who will begin training to become a mental health nurse in January, said: “I’ve seen lots of photos and posts on Facebook about Christmas shoe boxes for troops abroad and I wanted to do something similar for lonely elderly people in our community.

“I approached Queens Meadow Care Home for help getting donations for the shoeboxes – we’re looking for a wide range of suitable items.

“Christmas can be the loneliest for times for those with no one to share it with, so the more donations we can get the better, as we’d like to deliver them to as many people as possible.”

Among the items Beth is calling for: soap, shower gel, bubble bath, moisturiser, sweets, chocolate, socks, hankies, scarves, hats, gloves, slippers, ornaments and jewelry.

Julie Armstrong, manager at Queens Meadow Care Home, part of the Hill Care Group, said: “People like Beth can make the world of difference to a vulnerable, lonely elderly person this Christmas.

“Her shoebox campaign is a fantastic idea and we were delighted when she approached us for help. We’d now like to see as many donations as possible, so please dig deep and donate generously this Christmas.”

Donations can be dropped off at Queens Meadow Care Home, 327 Stockton Road, Hartlepool, TS25 5DF.