Safety services firm brings festive joy and companionship to elderly
Legionella and Fire Safe Services (LFS) swapped their hi viz's for something a bit more festive, by embarking on a heartwarming mission to combat loneliness among the elderly in Staffordshire .
Through their initiative, Stockings for Smiles, their aim was to ensure that no older person feels alone or forgotten during the holiday season.
LFS say their vision for Stockings for Smiles was simple yet powerful: to bring smiles and joy to the lives of those who may be feeling isolated and forgotten.
Partnering with Age UK Staffordshire, seven team members from Legionella and Fire Safe Services donned their elf costumes and visited the Age UK Staffordshire Head Office, armed with over 180 stockings for smiles.
LFS said the atmosphere was electric as they distributed the stockings to the day center visitors, many of whom have no relatives and often experience profound loneliness.
The impact was immediate and heartwarming, as the visitors' faces lit up with excitement and joy.
Kym Morris, business manager at LFS, and her team sat with the recipients all afternoon, opening the stockings and sharing in their delight.
One gentleman expressed his surprise, saying: "It is the most special I have felt during Christmas since my school days."
For another individual, who has no family and relies on the weekly visits to the Age UK center as their sole social interaction, said that this gesture meant the world.
Carl Bennett, CEO of Age UK Staffordshire, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration: "Age UK Staffordshire has had the absolute pleasure of working with Legionella and Fire Safe Services this past month or two.
"Kym and the Office Elves from LFS visited the Roller Mill, in Penkridge, to share lots of lovely presents with our Day Opportunities clients.
"Many of our clients experience dementia and the Elves spent time with each and every one helping un-wrap gifts and having a general chit chat. Our clients had a wonderful time with lots of smiles, laughs and thank you's all around - what a lovely gesture from the team at LFS. Thank you all for your generosity."
Over 180 stockings for smiles will also be distributed across all the Age UK Staffordshire day centers and into the community, reaching those who are housebound and those who may otherwise feel isolated.
Kym Morris and the team at LFS hope that Stockings for Smiles will serve as a reminder to everyone that a simple act of kindness can make a significant difference in someone's life.
They encourage others to reach out to the elderly in their communities and spread the joy of companionship.
Kym Morris said: " It was a lovely afternoon, we all really enjoyed it, some of our elves even got everyone singing Xmas songs and one lady in particular loved her harmonica from her stocking and was soon playing it to us all.
"We may have been there to bring smiles to these lovely people, but our elves said it was the best day they had had in a long time and asked when we could go again, our elderly need to know how much of an impact they have on our lives."
