This year Notre Dame’s students are involved in two projects to bring a little happiness to the local community, demonstrating the values of service and compassion.
Every December, with the support of our lay chaplain Mr. Andrew Sullivan, the students usually organise and run a Christmas gathering for older people who live locally. As that won’t be possible this year, our compassionate college has come up with an alternative plan to spread a little seasonal cheer.
Instead of inviting some of our most vulnerable neighbours into college for an afternoon of carols, bingo, and entertainment, our students have made Christmas cards and posted these to them. We hope to reach 350 elderly people in the Little London and Woodhouse areas, sending a message of love in the knowledge that the recipients may have seen very little of their families for some months, other than through the window of their house or care home.
In addition, our health and social care students have been thinking of others this week, writing postcards to residents of three homes for adults with learning disabilities, and a care home for the elderly.
Lily Thompson, Lynda Cohen and Montague Burton are the only Jewish residential learning disability homes in Leeds. Springfield Care Home in Garforth specialises in residential care and care for individuals living with the early stages of dementia. The 32 students who took the time to write postcards to those living in these homes sent cheerful and friendly messages, asking the recipients about themselves and talking about their own families, interests, and career aspirations.
Thank you to all the students who’ve volunteered to be part of both projects, giving up their time to enrich the lives of others.
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