Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust health visitors and community nursery nurses in Rushmoor rallied together to encourage Christmas donations for vulnerable families.
The north Hampshire-based nurses started a social media campaign for a special collection after health visitor Rebecca Lobb dropped off her fortnightly food and hygiene products to the Community Grub Hub, located just outside NHS offices in Aldershot.
Community nursery nurses Kirsty Holden and Rebecca
Salveson helped lead the effort and within 10 days of starting their collection, the team has amassed over 600 advent calendars, 13 tubs of chocolate and 36 boxes of Christmas biscuits. As well as Christmas treats, over 800 children’s books have been collected for vulnerable children to support literacy skills, which include details of library services and groups that they run, while also promoting them as warm spaces this winter.
Siri Dennis, Health Visiting Area Manager said: “This has all been initiated and carried out in their own time, and shows their 110% dedication to the families they work with and their determination to support them in so many different ways.”
Donations have been distributed in the local area to the Community Grub Hub, Church of the Good Shephard in Farnborough, a special needs school, a temporary housing accommodation block, the women’s refuge, as well as staff taking them to their individual visits.