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Be A Santa 2024: Spreading Joy and Warmth This Holiday Season

At Home Instead Taunton & West Somerset, we’ve always believed in the power of community and kindness, and this initiative has once again shown us what we can achieve together

Bringing Joy to the Community

For the past 10 years, our Be A Santa campaign has focused on bringing smiles to the faces of older adults in our community who might otherwise feel isolated or overlooked during the festive season. Through the combined efforts of our team, clients, Care Professionals, and local businesses, we delivered hundreds of beautifully wrapped gifts to those in need. Each package was more than just a gift; it was a gesture of love, care, and the reassurance that no one is forgotten.

How the Campaign Came Together

The journey began months ago with planning and coordination. Here’s how the magic unfolded:

  1. Community Collection Points: We set up collection baskets at Monkton Elm Garden Centre, Specsavers Taunton, Tesco Express Galmington Centre, and our Home Instead office in Comeytrowe Centre. These locations made it easy for people to drop off gifts for the campaign.
  2. Partnering with Local Organizations: This year, we collaborated with Wellsprings Community Church, ARC (Taunton Association for the Homeless), and Diversity Voice UK to ensure the gifts reached those who needed them most. These partners distributed the gifts to their members, patients, and community members.
  3. Generous Donations: Thanks to the generosity of the local community, we collected a wide array of gifts, from warm blankets and festive treats to personalized items. Every donation was carefully chosen to make someone’s day brighter.
  4. Gift Wrapping and Personal Touches: Our team Care Pros and office team members came together for a wrapping session filled with holiday music, laughter, and plenty of ribbon!
  5. Delivery Day: The office team, with the help of community partners, delivered the gifts to local organizations for distribution. This collaboration ensured the presents reached those who needed them most, spreading holiday cheer and warmth throughout the community.
Home Instead Taunton Be A Santa gift collection basket under the Christmas tree at Specsavers Taunton

Community Effort

This campaign was a true community effort, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who made it possible. From the older gentleman who hadn’t received a Christmas gift in years to the widow who felt remembered and cherished, each story has left an indelible mark on our hearts. Local businesses like Monkton Elm Garden Centre, Specsavers Taunton, and Tesco Express Galmington Centre played a crucial role by hosting collection points, while partner organizations such as Wellsprings Community Church, ARC, and Diversity Voice UK ensured the gifts reached those in need. The office team, alongside our incredible community partners, delivered the collected gifts to those who needed them most. Seeing the power of small acts of kindness has reminded us all that the spirit of Christmas truly is about giving. Our team walked away with a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude, knowing that these gestures brought joy and comfort to so many.

Jinson, our marketing coordinator receiving the basket from Specsavers manager.

A Word from Our Director

Commenting on the heart-warming scheme, Mark Hunt, Director of Home Instead Taunton & West Somerset, said:

“The local community has been hugely supportive in past years when we have collected over a thousand presents. Feelings of isolation and loneliness can certainly be heightened during the festive period, and it’s lovely to be able to reach out to people and let them know that we are thinking of them at this time. We know how community-spirited local people are and are looking forward to receiving many donations this year at all our collection points. Our thanks go to them for allowing us to bring the campaign to their stores.”

Looking Ahead

To everyone who played a role in Be A Santa 2024, we can’t thank you enough. Your generosity and kindness have made this holiday season brighter for so many. Together, we’ve shown that no one in our community is alone or forgotten.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re already excited to make next year’s campaign even bigger and better. Until then, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

If you’d like to get involved or donate to future campaigns, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Home Instead Taunton on 01823 211121