Sonning Common nursing home shares the gift of giving with donations for charity

Abbeycrest Nursing Home in Sonning Common has teamed up with the local community to collect more than 130 shoeboxes full of gifts for Operation Christmas Child.

Every year, the international relief and development charity Samaritan’s Purse collects shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1990, more than 178 million children in more than 150 countries have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.

This year, Samaritan’s Purse are collecting a variety of Christmas gifts for children living in Africa and Ukraine.

George King, Customer Relations Manager for Abbeycrest Nursing Home said: “After a successful 2021 campaign, both residents and staff of our care home wanted to beat last year’s total of 54 boxes, so we mobilised families and friends along with the local community and businesses.”

After becoming a main shoebox collection point for the local area, Abbeycrest donated a staggering 138 gift-filled boxes along with cash donations totalling £690.

George added: “I want to send a huge thank you to our wonderful local community. The gift of giving provides so many benefits to our residents and staff at Abbeycrest, such as the feeling of social connection, promoting happiness and improving health. It is heart-warming to see the outcomes and benefits of the initiative to all involved.”

Businesses and community groups involved this year included the Christian Aid Charity Shop, Kingfisher Kindergarten, Little Birches Nursery and Preschool, FISH Volunteer Centre charity, Sonning Common Vauxhall, Co-op, Wood Lane Dentistry, Sonning Common Health Centre, Bishopswood School and Springwater Church.

Kingfisher Kindergarten manager La-Ryne van der Westhuizen said: “It was great to help support such a worthy cause and it aligns perfectly with our ethos of helping others.”