Volunteers bring early festive cheer to north Wales pensioners

Volunteers linked to Flintshire Local Voluntary Council have been busy preparing special Christmas gift boxes to help bring a little festive cheer to local older people.

The Flintshire volunteers, who delivered 38 gift boxes in total, were responding to an appeal from the national older people's charity Age Cymru that said many older people, particularly those who are lonely and isolated, will not receive a single gift this Christmas.

The charity is urging volunteers to fill a shoe box with gifts such as warm socks, hats, scarves and gloves as well as festive treats such as chocolates and other tasty nibbles. It is also asking volunteers to include a Christmas card so they can pass on a personalised message to the older person.

Age Cymru's Michael Phillips explained the rationale behind the campaign: "Our research found that 75,000 older people across Wales say they are often or always feeling lonely. And for many older people the pain of loneliness is even more acute during the Christmas period as the rest of us become busy with our own celebrations with family, friends and colleagues.

"A small gesture such as the Christmas gift box together with a personal message can make all the difference to a lonely and isolated older person as it shows that someone still cares about them."

The charity's Christmas gift box appeal is open until 19 December 2018. Simply call 029 2043 1555 to find your nearest office or shop to drop off the gift boxes.

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