‘Real’ Christmas cheer donation for rest homes
A kind gesture to ensure some of the region’s elderly don’t miss out on a bit of Christmas cheer has been welcomed by rest home managers.
New Plymouth man Justin King said he had heard how some rest homes outside of Taranaki struggled to fit celebrating the festive season into their budget so he decided to donate trees to any rest home in the region who needed one in order to ensure their residents don’t go without.
King runs a pop-up shop on Leach St which is touted as selling ‘‘NZ’s Best Christmas Trees’’.
He said it was ‘‘ridiculous’’ that rest home residents might not be able to experience the distinctive whiff of a real tree, so he wanted to do his bit to help out. In total, there are 28 rest homes in Taranaki, 20 of which are in the New Plymouth district.
Coronation Lodge Rest Home was one of the first facilities to take up King’s offer.
Recreational officer Karen Gyde said the tree is destined to take pride of place at the entrance to the home.
‘‘This year we’ve decided to have a remembrance tree,’’ she said.
This means little cut-out, decorated cardboard trees will be hung on the branches, bearing the names of people, either connected to the residents or staff, who had died.
Gyde said it was the second year in a row King had donated a Christmas tree to the rest home, and it was something the residents had greatly appreciated. ‘‘They just loved it.’’ Brooklands Rest Home manager Heather Marshall also supported King’s initiative.
‘‘It’s a good idea, it’s a charitable thing to do,’’ she said.
While the List St facility was already primed for December 25, having recently hosted a Christmas party for its residents, Marshall said the offer could be a great help to the smaller operators.
Sandra Heal, manager of Kohatu Rest Home in Waitara, said it was a proposal she would definitely have to consider.
‘‘We’ve only got an artificial one so a real one would be lovely.’’
Any rest home wanting to inquire about a Christmas tree donation can visit the Leach St store, which is opened daily from 9.30am until late.
Store worker Rongomai Ruakere said the tree stocks were replenished every four days or so.
Any trees not sold before Christmas Day would likely be given to the food bank and donated to families who otherwise could not afford a real tree, he said.