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 have come together and also in finding more 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. We also keep in touch with our WhatsApp Sorops Group and 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:-
- Regular collection and delivery of 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 with calls to Armed Forces Veterans (SSAFA) and Companion Calls for carers and people with a dementia (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 possible.
- We support the homeless with donations 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.
- We keep fit with yoga, walking and of course gardening during the recent lovely warm weather. When times are more normal it would be nice 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 arranged to produce beautiful ‘Rainbow’ mugs for sale with ALL proceeds going to the local NHS. A bargain at £4.75 each – please contact our Secretary Lin if you would like to purchase one of these lovely mugs.
- Some members are making ‘face masks’ for people in the community.
- We continue to donate to food banks and is needed even more in 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!
- Members made donations of large plastic boxes to be used as lockers for patients at the new temporary Rainbow Hospital at Bangor, following an appeal by Ysbyty Gwynedd .
- Our sewing champs have been busy making bags for nurses’ scrubs at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
- We have donated eight £20 Asda gift cards for families at the Women’s Refuge. There are 3 families at the moment and a fourth family is expected next week.
- One of our members helps run the Tregarth Community Allotments at Moelyci where 60 local individuals and families have allotments. Growing fruit and vegetables in a safe outdoor space is providing a lifeline to them. Many people have commented how lucky they feel to be able to do this and how it is helping them keep strong both physically and mentally during lockdown. Some members are shielding and are not able to attend so the little community of growers are rallying round and taking care of these plots until shielding is eased.
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One member used to organise a monthly meeting at a cafe for a local group of carers and their loved ones with dementia. During the current crisis they have organised a WhatsApp group and she hosts a weekly get-together via Zoom.
Scrubs, Mugs and Facemasks