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Wetherby’s leading older persons’ charity is appealing for handmade Christmas cards for its a popular postal scheme designed to reduce isolation and loneliness.
Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) would like volunteers to help them ‘send a smile’ to over 60s over the festive period – and say that someone is thinking of them.
WiSE’s postal scheme has become so popular, the charity says it is nearing its 1,000th item of post sent. But with a harsh winter just around the corner, those behind the scheme want to supercharge its reach before Christmas.
Melody Mills, Send a Smile Scheme coordinator, said: “Christmas can be a lonely time for many – especially older people who don’t have family and often just have their TV for company.
“We would love to spread festive cheer this year and send our older friends a homemade Christmas card to let them know that someone out there is thinking of them.
“We are also welcoming nominations for this, so if you have a friend, neighbour of family member who’s 60 or over and you think they’d like to receive a handmade Christmas card, we’d absolutely love to hear from you.”
Cards can be posted or dropped to the office at WiSE, The One Stop Centre, Westgate, Wetherby, LS22 6NL. The cut-off date for receiving cards needs to be no later than the middle of November to ensure they reach a recipient on time.
To nominate a person over 60 to receive a card, email smile@w-ise.org.uk or phone 01937 588994. If you are an older person and would like to receive the post, you can also contact the charity.
WISE is a registered charity organisation part funded by Leeds City Council (LCC). Its aim is to improve quality of life for the over 60s by providing community based activities, information, help and support. It was recently given the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is equivalent to an MBE. For more information about the Send a Smile Scheme visit www.w-ise.org.uk/our-services/#smile