This month a team of Hospice staff and volunteers headed out into the community to deliver some special treats to over seventy of our Living Well Centre guests
Lovingly made by our in house Catering Team, the parcels contained a cream tea with sandwiches, scones and cake.
The idea had been planned for a short time, but just happened to coincide with the first day of the new national lockdown rules that came into affect on Thursday 5th November. A date that many of us may have been struggling for various reasons.
Over two days they were delivered to the homes of those currently isolating due to their life-limiting illness and who have been unable to return to the Hospice’s Living Well Centre since we reopened to limited patient numbers. Each was wrapped with bows and contained an individual hand written note for the recipient.
Day Services Manager Denise said: “We continue to make weekly calls to patients who cannot return at present. These can range from a brief conversation to something longer for those who require a little more of our time, as sadly they may not receive any other contact from the outside world.”
“Our intention with the deliveries was to lift spirits and to show our guests they still remain very much in the thoughts of everyone here at the Hospice. For some the many months in isolation has taken a toll on their physical and emotional wellbeing. Not all guests have the luxury of a loving family, friends or a close knit community, and for them recent times have been tough.”
For some patients it was truly over whelming to receive the treats with many struggling to hold back the tears.
Denise added: “None of us could ever have imagined the reaction this simple act of kindness evoked. The ability for us at St Cuthbert’s to still make human contact, albeit socially distanced, it’s the greatest gift of all. It is such a privilege that when someone is in one of the most difficult phases of their life that human kindness can have such an impact, often the simplest of things can mean the most.”
Share:
