The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Norwich Evening News, have joined forces, once again, to make sure every inpatient in hospital receives a gift on Christmas Day.
The annual Send a Smile with Santa campaign aims to collect more than 1,000 presents donated by the public and businesses.
These are then distributed to the patients, both young and old, unable to celebrate at home with their families and who will be spending Christmas Day in hospital.
John Lewis department store in Norwich gave the appeal an early boost with the donation of 45 Jelly Cat toys – one for each of the babies who will spend Christmas in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Chief Nurse Nancy Fontaine said: “Our clinical teams do their best to ensure a lot of patients are able to spend Christmas at home, but there will always be those who must remain in hospital during the Christmas period, including those brought in as emergency cases on the day.
“Our staff work hard to make Christmas a happy time for patients and families, but it is always extra special to receive a gift on the day.
“We are hugely grateful for all the presents donated each year and we would love to be able to do the same this year. We are very grateful for John Lewis for helping our launch our appeal in such a positive way.”
Presents can be dropped off at main NNUH reception desks and at the Archant building on Rouen Road in Norwich.
Gifts can also be donated at Costa Coffee 48 London Street, Jet Service Station Halesworth and Norwich Rail Station will also have collection points for donations.
Louise Cook Head of Fundraising commented: “We are delighted that the Norwich Evening News is part of our campaign again.
“We’d also like to thank John Lewis for the fantastic toy donation to our NICU patients to start the campaign – we’ve had such a heart-warming response from the people of Norfolk in the past so we hope we can also reach our target this year.
“Please think about us if you are shopping for gifts and maybe buy one extra for a patient – gifts don’t need to be large and can be items as simple as toiletries or a puzzle book. Every year we struggle for men’s gift so we urge people to think about items which may be suitable such as a shower gel.”
All presents should remain unwrapped so that the hospital can ensure that presents are individually tailored and wrapped for each patient, as well as protecting against potential infection. In addition to gifts, the hospital would also welcome donations of gift bags. More gift ideas are listed here.
If you are shopping online at John Lewis, we have a Send a Smile with Santa gift list with a selection of small gifts which you may like to purchase for a patient, just type in 751747 at John Lewisor visit our Amazon wish list for ideas Amazon Wish List
Unfortunately we are not able to accept homemade gifts, electrical items, sharp objects or any used goods.
For more information on the appeal, or to offer a drop off location, please contact Louise Cook on 01603 287107 or email fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk. Please ensure all presents are dropped off by Saturday 8th December 2018 to allow time for the hospital to wrap presents in preparation for Christmas Day.
Drop Off Points
• EDP Offices in Norwich
• Main West In-Patient Reception Level 1 at the NNUH Hospital
• Costa Coffee 48 London Street Norwich NR2 1LA
• AW + D Hammond Ltd Jet Service Station, Norwich Road Halesworth Suffolk IP19 8BU
• Greater Anglian Norwich Railway Station Customer Service
