Our Impact
We first started supporting people in care with no friends or family in 2015, as a young couple wrapping presents on our tiny kitchen floor. Since then, thanks to the support of over 300 volunteers, Croxley Community Club, Mill End Community Centre and My News Magazine we’ve had a team of people donating, wrapping and distributing gifts to more than 4800 people in care with no loved ones.
Presents wrapped on Emily and Jan Benner’s kitchen floor in 2015
People and care homes supported per year
We hope to continue supporting people in care homes with no loved ones, however the growth is not sustainable without your support. We are looking for people to run their own local gift donations, support with funding, and to participate in existing local projects.
Testimonials
Read the below testimonials to see why you should get involved…
(some details have been removed to protect the identity of residents and children)
“I used to hate Christmas but now it is the best part of my year knowing i will have a visitor and a present. ”
“It’s so nice someone has thought of me”
“What caring people”
“This makes a real difference at Christmas time”
“Such an amazing kind hearted thing to do”
“Thank you so much, the residents really appreciate your gesture especially [name removed] who yesterday told me again she was so happy about it. ”
“All our residents at Chestnut Lodge live with the symptoms of dementia. As the manager of Chestnut Lodge for several years now we have received gifts at Christmas time for our residents who have no next of kins and no friends are visiting. Violets gift have been extremely important to making sure our vulnerable residents are not left out and feel that someone has thought about them at Christmas time. This also means those residents have a present to open on Christmas Day. Some residents who have relatives passed away still think that their loved ones have bought them a present which makes them feel good.
So lovely to see their eyes bright with a smile on their face on Christmas Day.”
“I was really moved by the story of how
Violet’s gift started in 2015 and my involvement started by donating presents that year. I was inspired again the following year after reading Emily’s blog about starting your own, for which I did in the Woking area which was a great success. In Christmas 2018 I brought the initiative to my workplace and received so much support from colleagues and friends, we donated gifts to 40 people across 4 care homes in High Wycombe. I now continue to volunteer at one of the care homes on a monthly basis visiting the residents that I met at Christmas. Big thanks to Emily at Violet’s Gift for starting such a fantastic charity, one that I hope to continue on for many years.”