Be a Santa to a Senior 2024: Bringing Christmas Cheer to Norwich
Join Home Instead Norwich’s 2024 ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ campaign and help spread Christmas joy to local older adults in Norwich. Donate a gift and make a difference.
As we begin to approach the festive season, many of us are anticipating spending time with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and enjoying the warmth that Christmas brings. However, for some older adults in Norwich, Christmas can be a time of loneliness. That’s why Home Instead Norwich is once again proud to run our annual “Be a Santa to a Senior” initiative for 2024, spreading a little Christmas joy, especially to those who may otherwise be alone.
What is ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’?
The idea is simple: people from across Norwich join together to donate gifts, which we then distribute to older adults in our city who may not have family or friends around during Christmas.
It’s more than just a gift, it’s a gesture of kindness, a reminder to our older generations that they are remembered and valued at this special time of year. Whether it’s a box of chocolates, a cosy scarf, or a thoughtfully selected book, every contribution can help make someone’s Christmas brighter.
A gift that makes a difference to local people in Norwich
Last year, we were able to bring Christmas cheer to older adults across the city of Norwich, delivering gifts to those in hospitals, and individuals and groups within our own community. For many, the gesture was the highlight of their day, their week and their Christmas.
Some of the local groups we’ve donated to, such as the Hellesdon Library Dementia Support Group and Sprowston Dementia Friendly Community.
We worked closely with local charities and organisations, such as Age UK Norwich and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, to ensure that no one was left out. These gifts brought smiles to faces, lifted spirits, and reminded people that they are never truly alone, even at Christmas.
Last year, in 2023 we were overwhelmed by the generosity of individuals, local businesses, and community groups across Norwich, collecting nearly 500 gifts for older adults in Norwich.
How you can get involved in Norwich
Getting involved in Be a Santa to a Senior is easy, and it’s a wonderful way to give back to your local community. While we are still finalising the locations of our drop-off points, we’d love you to start thinking about how you can contribute.
Once our collection points are confirmed, you’ll be able to donate gifts at locations across Norwich. Popular items include:
– Festive treats like chocolates and biscuits
– Cosy winter essentials such as scarves, hats, or gloves
– Books, puzzles, or jigsaw sets
– Toiletries or small gift sets
– Hot water bottles or slippers
If you’re unable to drop off your gift, don’t worry, our team can arrange to collect donations directly from your home, making it even easier to take part.
Another way to get involved is by joining our team to help wrap the gifts before they are distributed. We’ll be sharing more details as we get closer to December!
Looking ahead to Christmas 2024
This year, we are excited to continue this tradition and hope that even more people across Norwich will get involved. As we await the final details of our drop-off locations, we encourage you to keep an eye on our updates at our Norwich Facebook Page, or get in touch with us directly if you would like to donate or nominate a senior to receive a gift.
If you’d like to join us in making Christmas special for our elderly community members, please contact Hannah at Home Instead Norwich by emailing Hannah [email protected] or calling our team on 01603 963317.
Together, we can bring the magic of Christmas to our older generations across Norwich and remind them that they are part of a community that cares.
If you’d like to find out more about our local care at home services or are interested in joining our team at Home Instead Norwich, a 5-star rated employer, please contact us on 01603 963317 or apply to become a Care Professional online at our Norwich recruitment page here.