BRINGING JOY TO THE SICK AND LONELY

I discovered the Philanthropist, Matt  Redhawk online recently and it got me thinking about the projects I’ve been involved in over the years and how wonderful it feels to give.

There is no feeling better than making someone smile and feel better about their situation.

I had the great fortune of belonging to an outreach group in our Church, who knitted beanies and jerseys for the less fortunate in the community.

It was such a vibrant group but many of them, although they were willing to make things, did not have the means to do so. Many of them were retired and living in Retirement Homes.

BRINGING JOY TO THE SICK AND LONELY CHILDREN AT MAITLAND COTTAGE HOSPITAL

For many years before I joined Gardens Presbyterian Church and the outreach group the wonderful members had been holding parties over many years, for the Maitland Cottage Hospital which caters for long-term patients from all over Africa.  Many of these little ones are separated from their families for many months and get very lonely.  #bringingjoytothesickandlonely.

As a person who loves sewing and seeing the need, I suggested that we make quilts to cheer up the wards.

Sadly many of the members no longer had sewing machines but supported the project by gifting pieces of fabric or money for fabric for the quilt making project.

BRINGING JOY TO THE SICK AND LONELY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (ACTUALLY MORE THAN A LITTLE)

The project grew and we ended up making 68 quilts for the Hospital and then went on to make toys for the children. Ragdolls for the girls and soft toys and toys collected from willing donors for the boys. What fun it was working together and collecting all the toys.

The ladies who were unable to help with the sewing were prepared to bake or donate cool drinks, chips, and sweets to put into the ice-cream containers we decorated for the children.

The friends that helped me with the sewing, and some of the helpers giving out the gifts, were not even members of the Church, Just wonderful, kind and generous people who love to help.

GREAT FUN AND GAMES  WHEN BRINGING JOY TO THE SICK AND LONELY

Bringing Joy to the Sick and Lonely at Maitland Cottage Hospital. Home made ragdolls and quilts and toys for boys.

Getting all the quilts and toys to the Hospital entailed hitching up the trailer and packing that and the trunk full. In the excitement, my husband did not connect the trailer securely to the hitch on the car and when we went around a very steep turn, we went one way in the car and the trailer carried on down the hill.

What a shock, fortunately, it came to a standstill against the curb and two very kind young men came to our aid. They thought it a huge joke and we did too eventually but at the time it was quite frightening. If it had carried on down the hill, it could have caused a nasty accident as at the end of the road was a very busy intersection.

THE CHILDRENS FACES WERE SUCH A TREAT

Oh to see the joy on the faces of those children quilting precious memories was worth all the work and effort which had gone into the making of the quilts, toys and the delicious treats made for them.

We spent hours with the children, painting nails, reading stories, chatting and spending times with them. Some of these little ones had spent many months recuperating from operations or had physical disabilities.

NOTHING BETTER THAN BRINGING JOY TO THE SICK AND LONELY

If you ever want to feel the immense joy of giving of yourself, just get involved with a group of like-minded people and you will find, it is the best feeling in the world. Just give a little of your time and bring a smile and joy to the sick and lonely.

It need not be to a Children’s Hospital. There are so many Charities crying out for help. You could visit Old Aged Homes, where the aged are not seeing their families as much as they used to.

All they need is a bit of your time and you could be bringing joy to the sick and the lonely.

What a privilege.