Our Story
In summer 2015, Emily’s Grandma - Maria - had to move into a care home after her dementia became unmanageable. Another resident, a lovely lady named Violet became Maria’s best friend. In fact, she spent each and every day becoming her best friend, as if for the first time. After a few months, Emily noticed Violet never had visitors and was saddened to hear that Violet and 16 others in her Grandma’s care home had no friends or family.
Christmas can be very lonely time for those without loved ones like Violet, so that Christmas Emily asked my friends and family if they would be happy to donate gifts for the residents at her Grandma's care home and was overwhelmed with the response. People genuinely wanted to help. She had enough gift donations, to not just make Violet smile that year, but to help over 70 people who had no friends or family, providing gifts to 6 care homes that Christmas. That was sadly Violet's last Christmas… but it was a Christmas made special for her by the kindness of others.
Emily’s grandma. Maria (left) with her friend Violet (right)
Emily (left) and her grandma Maria (right)
Since 2015, the gift donations have grown in Violet’s memory (and in 2020 in memory of Emily’s grandmother Maria), with over 5000 presents donated so far. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of local people and businesses, Small Acts of Kindness, Croxley Green Community Club, Mill End Community Centre and My News Magazine.
This has become a Christmas tradition in Hertfordshire, as well as new Violet’s Gift projects being run across the UK thanks to very kind volunteers. During Christmas 2020 over 300 people came together to wrap, donate and distribute presents to 2087 people with no friends or family across 93 care homes.
Make Christmas special in a care home near you. Spread the love for Christmas 2022 and get involved