Volunteers bring Christmas cheer
Volunteers from St John Ambulance
brought season’s greetings to hundreds of older patients in
hospital over the Christmas weekend.
Operation Christmas stocking
For the fifth year, members of the charity’s
group in Eastern Portsmouth have launched Operation Christmas
Stocking, which provides gifts for elderly people spending the
festive period in hospital.
They are giving up their Christmas Eve to
distribute donated gifts to eight wards at the Queen Alexandra
Hospital, Cosham, as they have done for the past four
Christmases.
Operation Christmas Stocking allows us to make a difference in the lives of those who are unable to be with their families at Christmas.
Franceska Dante
Project co-ordinator
Project co-ordinator Franceska Dante said:
‘Operation Christmas Stocking allows us to make a difference in the
lives of those who are unable to be with their families at
Christmas; our members, aged five upwards, thoroughly enjoy
spending their Christmas Eve bringing cheer to older people in
hospital.’
St John Ambulance members range in age from
five to adult and undertake many hours of service to the community
each year.
They are known for first aid and ambulance
work and also help in the community with projects such as running
baths for people unable to bath at home.
Ms Dante added: ‘Operation Christmas Stocking
is very much in the same spirit and aims to make Christmas a
happier time for those who cannot be at home.’