Lottery winner’s gift to care home
Paula’s festive gifts handmade
A LOTTERY winner is helping to spread some Christmas cheer.
A LOTTERY winner has put her crafting skills to good use to create some Christmas cheer for residents of a care home.
Paula Morling, from Havant, who won £1m on a scratchcard in November 2018, put the recent lockdown to good effect by hand-making individual festive cards.
She has donated her creations along with stamps and a Christmas pen to the residents of Malmesbury Lawns Care Home so they can send their own season’s greetings to friends and family.
The home in Havant has a special place in Paula’s heart because her father, Albert Stutchbury, who she lost earlier this year, often visited in his role as a community driver.
She explained: ‘I think my dad would approve of my little Christmas crafting project and that the cards are going to Malmesbury Lawn.
‘Dad was a community volunteer driver for almost 13 years and in that time he took many of the residents out for shopping trips and sometimes further afield for short breaks on the south coast. In fact, he was so well known by the residents, he became known as Bert the Driver!’
Between her role as a breakfast and lunchtime supervisor at a primary school, and caring for her family, Paula found time to quietly beaver away making the Christmas cards in various shapes and sizes.
She added: ‘I’ve always enjoyed crafting but I will admit that since our National Lottery win I’ve been a little more addicted as I can spend a more time on my hobby!
‘Usually I send the cards and gift to family and friends but this has been a very strange and difficult year for so many people so it felt right to gift them to those people who could make really good use of them this festive season.
‘My Christmas cards might just provide a moment of light and happiness on a winter’s day for the residents of Malmesbury Lawn. It’s my way of spreading a little seasonal joy.’
Bill Dyet, manager of the care home, said: ‘At this time of year, alongside Christmas carols and putting up the Christmas tree, we encourage residents to write Christmas cards.
‘Thanks to Paula’s efforts, the cards the residents will be writing, with support from our dedicated carers, will be especially full of Christmas cheer.’
Paula also gifted a hamper of Christmas goodies to the carers to thank them for their commitment.