Christmas hampers bring joy

AND MAKING THEM IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT

Aged care residents have done it tough these past few years thanks to continued COVID-19 lockdowns. Now many are finding joy and purpose in doing something for others in the lead up to the festive season. Mary has been involved in putting together VMCH Christmas hampers since the program’s inception in 2016.

Each year, non-profit organisation VMCH creates and delivers around 600 hampers including food, decorations, toiletries and toys to its affordable homes residents, specialist school and early learning and therapy communities, and clients receiving home care packages.

This will be VMCH’s seventh year delivering hampers, and perhaps the most important. Lockdowns have left vulnerable people even more isolated, and finances have been hit hard.

Involved from the start, John R Hannah Aged Care resident Mary makes decorations to include in the Christmas hampers as part of VMCH’s innovative Arts in Action program.

“This program has meant a lot to me, it makes me feel special to be part of it,” Mary says. “I enjoy making the craft and being involved in a group; it makes me feel connected.

“I often imagine the person opening the door and receiving the hamper and this makes me feel special.”

Aged care resident Margaret described Arts in Action as “an incredible way of people relating and connecting to one another and also creating and giving back to the community”.

Arts in Action was formed in early 2016 when aged care resident, Norma, told her Pastoral Care Worker, Liz Winston, of a deep and unfulfilled need to give back to others.

Subsequent conversations revealed Norma wasn’t alone. As a result, a team of 20 aged care residents was formed to create Arts in Action, where they can use their artistic skills to make crafts for people less fortunate than themselves for the Christmas hamper drive.

More than 100 residents across VMCH’s 12 aged care homes now take part. Those living with dementia and disabilities were also able to participate, through painting or decorating wrapped items, she said.

“We provide options for residents to participate, planned around their artistic and creative interests and current level of ability,” Liz said.

“If a resident had been an artistic painter all their life but hand dexterity meant they could no longer produce fine work, they could now participate in painting craft items and choosing colour.”

The participants create and decorate thousands of items including Christmas decorations, soaps, notepads and pens for the hampers each year.

The hampers are a huge community effort. Along with aged care residents, clients from VMCH disability services and volunteers make decorations, a group of retirement living residents create bon bons, local students from Methodist Ladies College donate food items, charity Good360 Australia donate toys, and staff volunteer to pack and deliver the hampers. Some VMCH staff also donate to the hamper appeal through a Workplace Giving program.

VMCH Mission team member Jo Gray says feedback from recipients is always so positive. “For some it’s the highlight of their year, which says a lot about the impact.

“A daughter rang to say how grateful she was. She’s caring for her mum and is quite socially isolated. She said VMCH is one of the best organisations she and her mum were involved with.” On receiving his hamper last year, affordable homes resident Michael said, “Thanks so much, I’m so thankful for all these goodies, you’ve made my Christmas.”

Cassie Zlonzak is Communications Advisor, VMCH. VMCH is raising funds for the hampers in its 2021 Christmas Appeal. If you would like to make a donation, call 1300 698 624 or visit www.vmch.com.au/ christmashampers