Local Carehome Deliveries

Many people have been clapping for the NHS on Thursday evenings but our Vice Chair, Jennifer Dearing, suggested that the Society reach out to the seven Chislehurst care homes to see if they needed PPE or particular supplies.

When we rang round we discovered that it was their hard working staff who needed a pick me up. Antokol, the Polish care home in Holbrook Lane, were having difficulty getting milk supplies and the residents at Fairlight and Fallowfield were missing their magazines often brought by visitors.

So we knew that with a bit of coordination we could help. Our youngest trustee, Gabriella Toth was despatched to Sainsburys, where she enjoyed indulging in some retail therapy. My message to their new Manager, Christian Martin was heard loud and clear and where I had only asked if we might buy multiple items, he responded very generously by donating biscuits, tea, coffee and cake. We were blown away by the trolley load of bags that he gifted to us, all packed cleanly by a hygienically protected team of willing staff. A Huge Thank you Chris and the local Sainsburys team.

I collected the goods from Gabriella and put together seven boxes of treats. My shout out to local children for pictures produced seven very cheerful drawings of gratitude, left in a plastic box at my door!

Next came the donations of magazines from my road neighbours, who clearly love wildlife and gardening. ( although just the one motoring magazine received will have to do the rounds amongst the petrol heads at Fairlight!)

Today, trustees Peter Miller, Jennifer Dearing and Anne Lamb along with my brother in law, Paul, on their daily walks have collected the boxes from my car and dropped them to the doors of Heritage Care on the High Street, Willett House in Kemnal Rd, Antokol, Duke of Kent Court in Shepherds Green, Fairlight and Fallowfield on Ashfield Lane, Bupa Care in Elmstead Land and Whiteoak Court in Selby Close.

The carers that we saw in the doorways were genuinely thrilled and absolutely delighted with the goodies.

Kemnal Residents Association is also sending a care package to Willett House and I suspect we can deliver more donations and cheerful pictures as lockdown continues.

It’s been a positive day for us but a drop in the ocean in reality. These staff work tirelessly to care for the vulnerable who are so bewildered and isolated at present.

It was our pleasure to support them. Let’s all continue to think about them and help where we can.
Joanna Friel
Chairman
The Chislehurst Society