Many of us see Christmas as a time to get together with our loved ones, but for some like Sally, it can be a difficult time.
Sally is 67 years old, has limited mobility and struggles to get out and about. She has no living family, other than two grandchildren who do not live nearby, and she doesn’t see them as often as she would like since her son passed away.
Sally has a dog and the dog is often the only person she will speak to throughout the day. She lives in a ground floor flat and says some days the only noise she hears is from the kids outside, the dog barking and the sound on the TV.
She enjoys being around people but for a long time hasn’t looked after herself.
This Christmas Sally says she can’t put a tree up and can’t be festive when she doesn’t feel it. She doesn’t have any plans to go anywhere, she won’t have a Christmas dinner and said she will be happier when the whole thing is over.
Sally is one of the 1 in 7 people who won’t speak to anyone this Christmas.
That was until whg Kindness Champions heard of this and now she is going out for a meal on Christmas eve with other lonely and isolated customers and whg colleagues. She will receive presents to open (these may be the only gifts she gets) and companionship ahead of Christmas day.
When she was asked if she would like to go out Christmas Eve she jumped at the chance and said she would like that very much. Sally said, “it’s nice knowing other people care and having someone think about me is so lovely.”
It doesn’t take much to be kind but the difference from small acts of kindness can be huge.
That's why tomorrow we're launching our seven days of #WalsallChristmasKindness Get involved on X (formally Twitter) @WalsallTogether or on Facebook and tell us how you’re giving the gift of kindness this Christmas.
