This has been a very challenging time globally but all our members have been amazing. True friendship and kindness has shone through during this extremely difficult experience. We have even found unexpected delights as communities come together and where there is time to stand and stare.
Like many at this time, we are overcoming technical challenges and having virtual meetings via Zoom on a regular basis. Those members unable to join us are contacted afterwards via our ‘buddy system’. This works very well and means all our members can keep in touch. Another way of keeping in touch is our WhatsApp Sorops Group where we share many hilarious videos, jokes and quizzes to keep us amused! On a more serious note, it is a way of making sure that all our members are keeping safe and well with help wherever it is needed.
Despite the challenges, we have been very active and enthusiastic in finding different ways to help and support people in our community whilst we are in lockdown.
Here are some of the ways we have been helping others:-
- Regularly collecting and delivering prescriptions for the vulnerable and the elderly – many people would struggle without this much appreciated help.
- Shopping for friends and neighbours and contacting friends and family via telephone and group video calls.
- Telephone Chats to lift spirits when isolation is a challenge. We telephone Armed Forces Veterans with SSAFA and make Companion Calls for carers and people with a dementia with the Alzheimer’s Society.
- We’ve all been ‘spring cleaning’ and surplus items will be going to many of our local charity shops or sold for fund raising when we are able to.
- To support the homeless, donations have already been taken to Pendinas; a hostel in Bangor helping people integrate back into the community. They learn to cook for themselves so many items have been given to help them.
- Keeping fit – yoga, walking and of course gardening during the recent lovely warm weather has been a must for everybody. When times are more normal we could arrange a ‘Tour’ of some of our beautiful gardens to celebrate our achievements
- Home tuition on Skype for grandchildren. I am sure that was fun!
- One of our ladies has produced beautiful ‘Rainbow’ mugs for sale with ALL proceeds going to the local NHS. A bargain at £4.75 each
- Some members have been busy making ‘face masks’ for people in the community.
- Donations to food banks have continued and are gratefully received at this unprecedented time.
- One of our members has a ‘personal charity box’ – savings made by not going to the hairdresser, not meeting friends for coffees and lunches and of course money saved on fuel. What a wonderful idea!
- Following an appeal by Ysbyty Gwynedd for large plastic boxes to be used as lockers for patients at the new temporary Rainbow Hospital at Bangor, members made donations.
- Our sewing champs have been busy making bags for nurses’ scrubs at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
- Finally, a donation of eight £20 gift cards from Asda have been delivered to the Women’s Refuge for the families at the Refuge.
May 2020
