Still time to help give presents to patients
A FESTIVE appeal has been launched to ensure that everyone who has to spend Christmas in hospital will receive a present – but you need to be quick as the final day for donations is tomorrow.
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust's Voluntary Services team is appealing to the local community to donate a gift to bring a bit of cheer to those spending Christmas at the hospital through its newly-launched Christmas Gift Tree Appeal.
Kirsten Rogers, the Trust's new Voluntary Services Manager, said: “The Gift Tree is a wonderful thing to do at Christmas. No one wants to be in hospital for Christmas but if you have to be, it cheers up your day to receive a gift, particularly for our older patients who might not get many visitors. We are aiming to get more than 600 gifts to ensure every patient can receive a present.
“Our local community has always been so generous in the past and I am hoping this year will be the same.
“Businesses are being really generous too, offering gifts or putting posters up in their staff areas to encourage employees to donate. If you would like any posters or think your business can offer any gifts as a business, please get in touch. We’re happy for you to put a label on to say where it has come from.”
If you would like to donate a gift, you can bring your unwrapped present to the Gift Tree in main reception at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, collect a label and place it on the present. This year, donating is even easier, as you can now leave your presents at one of our designated collection points: White Stuff, 13-14 Gun St, in the Town Centre; Asda in Lower Earley or Asda in Tilehurst. Presents should be donated by tomorrow (Friday), so there is enough time to collect them and get them to patients at Christmas.
For more details, call the Voluntary Services team on 0118 322 8396.