Pentland View residents bring smiles at Christmas

PENTLAND View care home in Thurso has been a hive of activity over the past few weeks as staff, residents, families and friends have been getting involved in the Blythswood Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

The boxes are filled with useful gifts such as toiletries, toys, sweets, stationery and small items of clothing and given to children and adults in need in countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine. These gifts make a huge difference to the lives of people living in poverty, who would otherwise not receive any gifts at Christmas.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to all those who very generously donated items, and to our residents who helped to wrap and pack a grand total of 89 shoeboxes for those in need this Christmas. It has been inspiring to see our residents look beyond themselves to help others, from knitting scarves to wrapping boxes and helping to sort out the avalanche of donations."

Bythswood also sent out a vote of thanks to the parishioners of St Peter’s and St Andrew’s Church in Thurso and its minister, the Rev David Malcolm, who helped with donations and transport.

Mr Malcolm said: "As a Christian church we support the work of Blythswood charity in putting together these shoeboxes for those in other countries less fortunate than ourselves who wouldn't otherwise have a Christmas gift."

Fiona Cameron, who is a parishioner at Mr Malcolm's church and works as a nurse at Pentland View, said there were 44 boxes filled last year and more than double that amount for the current appeal. "A great thanks to all who donated and the residents who put so much effort into this," she said.

Tanya Sutherland, activities organiser at the care home, was involved in helping the residents fill and wrap the boxes. "I basically held the wrapping paper and they did the Sellotaping and everything else," Tanya said.

"My job involves keeping the residents busy so we do a variety of activities such as a baking club, sing-alongs, film afternoons and various other things to stop them getting bored."

For more information on the charity appeal visit www.blythswood.org/shoebox

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