To help lift the spirits of local unpaid carers, charity Crossroads Care Richmond and Kingston is running its Show an Act of Kindness this Christmas Appeal for a fourth year running.
Since 2021, with the help of your most generous donations, Crossroads Care has been delivering more than 50 Christmas hampers to vulnerable and socially isolated carers over the festive period.
For most people, Christmas is a time of festive cheer, nice food, presents and family, but for unpaid carers who provide unpaid care for loved ones with debilitating conditions such as dementia and profound disability, it can be a time of great loneliness.
Unpaid carers, who are looking after loved ones around the clock, often have no-one to exchange gifts with, and neither the time nor inclination to cook a festive meal.
Figures show that 47% of carers struggle to make ends meet and a further 55% are on the verge of burnout as they aim to navigate their way through the current cost of living crisis.
Hands of an elderly single man sitting alone at a table with Christmas cookies, coffee and festive decoration next to an empty chair, lonely holidays during the croronavirus pandemic or after a loss, selected focus
Following the death of his wife, one Crossroads user, Craig, 75, cares for his 46-year-old son alone after the young man suffered a catastrophic cardiac arrest which led to brain injury and cognitive and mobility problems. Craig cares knows all too well how lonely Christmas can be for carers.
He said, ‘Caring is 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and that doesn’t stop at Christmas.
‘Thanks to the kindness of donations from local residents, we received a hamper last year which really cheered up both my son and I, and added something special to Christmas Day.’
For just £30, Crossroads Care staff and volunteers will hand-deliver a personalised Christmas hamper full of delicious food staples to unpaid carers.
The charity aims to deliver more than 50 hampers and any donations over the target amount will go towards its Carers’ Christmas Lunch event which will take place in mid-December. Crossroads Care held this hugely popular event for the first time last year, bringing together carers and their cared-for at The Anglers, Teddington.
One carer told us: ‘Christmas Day came early when we attended the Crossroads Christmas Lunch. I don’t have the time to cook a festive meal on the day and it’s usually very lonely – but this was such fun, so special and much appreciated. Thank you, Crossroads!’
To contribute to the Crossroads Care Christmas Hamper Appeal, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/crossroadsxmashamperappeal2024
