Small Acts of Kindness and Violet’s Gift have been working in partnership since 2020, collecting, wrapping and delivering Christmas gifts to care home residents who have no loved ones.

Violet’s Gift was founded by Emily Benner in 2015. Her Grandma, Maria, moved into a care home and met another resident named Violet, becoming firm friends. Emily noticed that Violet never had any visitors and was saddened to hear that there were 16 others in her Grandma’s care home who also had no friends or family.

Christmas can be a very lonely time for those without loved ones, so Emily asked her friends and family if they would be happy to donate gifts for the residents and she was overwhelmed with the response.  Sadly, that was Violet's last Christmas, but it was made special by the kindness of others.

Since 2015, Violet’s Gift has supported over 6,300 people with no loved ones in care homes.  Small Acts of Kindness is delighted to continue to support Violet’s Gift in their mission to reduce loneliness for those in care homes by providing a gift and some company during the festive season.

“I used to hate Christmas but now it is the best part of my year knowing I will have a visitor and a present. ”
— Care home resident

How you can help 
Without the kindness and generosity of those who donate gifts and volunteer their time, we wouldn’t be able to make such a difference to those on their own in care homes. There are a few ways you can help us to make Christmas special and a little less lonely for someone.

Donate a gift - 'Violet's Gift Shop' is now closed for this year. Thank you to everyone who kindly donated. 

Volunteer your time - we need volunteers to help wrap and deliver our gifts. To get involved or for more information please contact Emily at [email protected].

Register your care home  - If you are a care home and would like your residents to receive Christmas gift donations, please contact Emily at [email protected].  Please register early as we will help homes on a first come-first served basis where we have volunteers local to you. We will contact you up until 24th December if we’re able to support your care home this year.