In a heart-warming display of generosity, customers have donated pyjamas, slippers, dressing gowns, fleece blankets, and children’s gifts as part of Primark and Dunelm’s Christmas Appeal. These initiatives aim to spread warmth and comfort to patients at Gateshead Health during the festive season.
Clare Drummond, Gateshead Health Charity Manager, is thankful for their donations:
Our charity is extremely grateful to Dunelm Team Valley Gateshead and Primark Gateshead and the generosity their customers who have shown in support of both Christmas Tree Campaigns.
Primark customers donated hundreds of pounds’ worth of baby and children’s clothing and adult nightwear, slippers and more for our patients attending the hospital over the Christmas period. This would not have been possible without the hard work of Jack Robertson who initiated and coordinated the Primark appeal.
Dunelm customers supported us this year by donating toys for children of all ages attending our hospital over the Christmas period. This really will help us to put a smile on children’s faces this Christmas.
The donated items have been shared with our Paediatrics, Sunniside and Cragside dementia units, and the JASRU (Joint Adult Specialised Rehabilitation Unit).
Victoria Graham, Ward Manager on JASRU shares how the donations are helping patients, “We would like to say a massive thank you to Primark for the pyjamas and slippers donated to JASRU. We have a lot of patients who don’t have any visitors. It will be lovely to give them some lovely new PJs for Christmas and bring some Christmas cheer.” These units will be welcoming patients who may require extended stays during this time, and the thoughtful contributions from the community are sure to make a significant difference.
Jack Robertson, Primark Manager comments on the fundraising
“Myself and Becca, from the Primark Metrocentre store are so happy and elated to have worked with and supported yourselves with donations from our amazing customers. It has been truly mesmerising the amount of festive cheer and kindness that we have seen from our customers over the last two months of our Giving Tree, raising over £14,300 for various charities and local establishments. A special thank you to Clare and Leonard of Gateshead Health Charity for their kind words and communication whilst working alongside them this year. We wish you are a Merry Christmas from Primark Metrocentre!”
The Paediatrics team received approximately 60 gift bags filled with gifts from Dunelm for children of all ages which the team will hand out to children who visit the hospital over the festive period.
Gemma Barrass from Dunelm, tells us more about the project:
“At Dunelm we run our delivering joy campaign from mid-September until December to donate Christmas gifts to local charities, hospitals and to people who may go without over the festive period. We put a Christmas tree up at the front of our store with gift tags that have the age, gender and gift of choice for each person. Our customers then take these tags, buy a gift and return it to us in-store before the date stated on the tag. We then sort the presents to each individual charity or hospital and we deliver them in our store van. We have had over 6,600 presents back to us this year which is absolutely incredible and we have been able to help 19 different charities so far. The whole process wouldn’t be possible without the support from our incredible customers who take the tags off our tree and put so much thought into the gifts they return to us.
For me it is an honour to be able to run this campaign and to know how many people we are able to help over the festive period, it’s heart-warming to know there will be many happy faces on Christmas Day.”
Due to the staggering amount of gifts donated, the team will share these with the Children’s Community Team, ensuring patients they visit over the festive period will also receive a gift.
Wendy Oliver, Senior Nursery Nurse is grateful for the gifts:
We would like to say a huge thank you to Primark and Dunelm for the wonderful Christmas gift donations to the Paediatric department. The gifts will be used over Christmas to give out to the children who attend our A&E department over this time, or those who need healthcare delivering at home from our community team. I am sure that this will bring much joy and happiness to the children and their families and will be very much appreciated.
The spirit of giving highlights the strong connection between our hospital and the local community. We are incredibly grateful for the kindness shown by Primark, Dunelm and their customers, ensuring that our patients feel supported and cared for, especially during the holiday season.
We hope our patients can feel some festive cheer and comfort while at hospital during this time. Thank you to everyone who has contributed!