At Eastside Gardens, we believe that strong community links are just as important as high-quality care. Every year at Christmas, we are reminded of how powerful kindness and connection can be and one local business owner continues to go above and beyond to make the festive season truly special for our residents.
Lyndsey, who runs the small business Scentaholic, is based just across the road from our Eastside Gardens care home. For the past four years, she has created a wonderful Christmas tradition that brings together the local community and our residents in the most heart-warming way.
In the run-up to Christmas, Lyndsey puts up a Christmas tree in her shop and decorates it with tags, each one bearing the name of a resident from Eastside Gardens. Members of the local community are invited to choose a tag, purchase a gift for that resident, and return it to the shop. Lyndsey then carefully delivers all of the presents to the care home, ensuring every resident has something special to open on Christmas Day.
What makes this gesture even more meaningful is Lyndsey’s generosity beyond the tags. She kindly donates additional gifts each year for residents who may not have visitors during the festive period, helping to ensure that no one feels forgotten or alone at Christmas.
This initiative has become a cherished tradition for our residents, bringing excitement, joy, and a strong sense of belonging. It also highlights the importance of community links in care settings. When local businesses and residents come together, it creates a supportive environment where older people feel valued, connected, and part of the wider community.
We are incredibly grateful to Lyndsey and everyone at Scentaholic, as well as the kind members of the local community who take part each year. Their generosity reminds us that small acts of kindness can make a big difference, especially at a time of year when togetherness matters most.
From everyone at Eastside Gardens, thank you for helping to make Christmas brighter for our residents, year after year.
