Covid-19 Service brings Warrington Ward Members Together

By Selina Miller

When COVID-19 emerged, I pondered how I could help as the Relief Society president. What could the Warrington Ward do with so many restrictions in place? After prayer and thought, I felt inspired to join the Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Being part of this, I felt, would give me an opportunity to serve. No sooner had I joined, than I got involved in their great projects.

There were four projects on which we focused:

• Boredom Busters, collecting and providing puzzles, jigsaws and games for hospital patients who get bored, especially with no visitors.

• Care packages, containing toiletries and dry and other goods for store cupboards.

• Hearts for Comfort, knitted and crocheted heart-shaped ‘comforters’ donated to patients and other members of their families.

• Drawstring bags, for medical staff to keep their scrubs (uniforms) protected.

I went to members of my ward for help. We soon got a good system going. Members would get extra items when shopping, find old puzzles and jigsaws, and knit hearts. I would arrange to collect the items, which were left outside their homes, to comply with social distancing requirements. It gave members the opportunity to serve as well as kept them communicating with each other. Every Thursday I would transport the items collected to the hospital for their distribution.

When it came to the drawstring bags, we needed 150 very quickly to allow them to be distributed to Bridgewater Community Healthcare for their workers. With such a large order in a short time, we needed extra help. We asked for the support of Liverpool Ward members. They were keen to help, and the order was completed in just over two weeks. Along with members of Warrington Ward we were able to get scrub bags delivered to Bridgewater Community Healthcare along with smaller bags to Warrington Hospital. Working together, we were able to help those in need and feel part of a team.

Rochdale Ward Responds to NHS Requests

By Kevin Fletcher

Members of the Rochdale Ward, Aston Stake, responded to a request from an NHS nurse who asked for donations of knitted hearts that could be donated as pairs; one of each pair for a COVID-19 patient and the other for their next of kin. The purpose was to bring hope and comfort to all affected and to keep them connected in a physical and symbolical way.

At short notice, the Relief Society sisters responded by knitting 74 pairs of hearts which have since been donated to hospitals in Barnsley, Swindon and Warrington.

Just prior to the lockdown, 888 knitted chicks, each with a Cadbury’s cream egg inserted inside, were donated to St. Francis Hospice, Manchester. This hospice is for children with terminal illnesses. The knitted chicks were distributed among local businesses, and schools from where they were sold to raise funds for the hospice. This is the second year Rochdale Ward has donated to the hospice and it looks forward to continuing its support for years to come.

All items donated were gratefully received. It was also touching to see friends of the Church getting involved in the project, including a lady’s singing group. Lives are touched by the so many simple acts of kindness.