SUPPORT LOCAL APPEAL TO BRING HAMPER HAPPINESS TO CARERS
The Crossroads Care charity is aiming to brighten up the lives of unpaid carers this Christmas with a campaign called Show an Act of Kindness This Christmas to deliver festive hampers to those in the community who are vulnerable or socially isolated.
The charity which operates across Richmond and Kingston has been running the campaign since 2021 following shocking figures which show that 47% of carers struggle to make ends meet and a further 55% ‘are on the verge of burnout’ as they struggle through the cost of living crisis.
A spokesperson said: “For most people, Christmas is a time of festive cheer, nice food, presents and family, but for unpaid carers who provide unpaid care for loved ones with debilitating conditions such as dementia and profound disability, it can be a time of great loneliness.
“Unpaid carers, who are looking after loved ones around the clock, often have no-one to exchange gifts with, and neither the time nor inclination to cook a festive meal.”
Following the death of his wife, one Crossroads user, Craig, 75, cares for his 46-year-old son alone after the young man suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest which led to brain injury and cognitive and mobility problems. Craig knows all too well how lonely Christmas can be for carers.
He said, ‘Caring is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that doesn’t stop at Christmas.
‘Thanks to the kindness of donations from local residents, we received a hamper last year which really cheered up both my son and I, and added something special to Christmas Day.’
For £40, Crossroads Care staff and volunteers will hand-deliver a personalised Christmas hamper full of delicious food staples to unpaid carers.
The charity aims to deliver more than 50 hampers and any donations over the target amount will go towards its Carers’ Christmas Lunch event which will take place in mid-December.
Crossroads Care held this hugely popular event for the first time last year, bringing together carers and their cared-for at The Anglers, Teddington.
One carer told us: ‘Christmas Day came early when we attended the Crossroads Christmas Lunch. I don’t have the time to cook a festive meal on the day and it’s usually very lonely – but this was such fun, so special and much appreciated. Thank you, Crossroads!’
To contribute to the Crossroads Care Christmas Hamper Appeal, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/crossroadsxmashamperappeal2024