Inverness woman delivers care packages to carers
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
CARE workers across the city are receiving proof that someone cares about them, thanks to the efforts of an Inverness woman.
Heather Louise Smith, a mother-of-two who lives in Balachan Drive in Tornagrain, had the idea of putting together care packages for hard-working care workers when she was dropping off a food donation for NHS staff at Raigmore Hospital.
As she was chatting to another volunteer, she said she realised that carers were not being recognised for their efforts as much as frontline NHS workers.
“This spurred me on to do something to show our appreciation for what carers do,” she said.
Looking initially to donate hand cream, she said: “Like NHS workers they are working hard and constantly washing hands, so their skin is bound to get sore and red. I wanted to do something to change that.”
The trainee accountant formed a WhatsApp group with friends from local churches and asked others to get involved.
“I collected a fair amount of donations, with which I was able to purchase hand creams and chocolate bars for all the care staff at Cradlehall Care Home,” she said.
“I dropped off the items and received a very warm thank you note.
“But then I thought, why should it stop with just one care home? There are at least 20 others in the Inverness area.”
Looking to expand, Mrs Smith contacted Facebook group Acts of Kindness Inverness and the Highlands, and volunteers were tasked with various responsibilities such as making cakes, arranging boxes of donations and carrying out deliveries.
She said: “We have already managed to send parcels of hand cream, sweets and chocolate, bakes, tissues, and puzzle books to five smaller homes.
“However, there are other homes of larger sizes, and we desperately need more donations to make this happen.
“Other care settings have got in contact to request the same, but we will be unable to help them unless there are enough donations.”
Donation boxes have been set up at Tornagrain Stores and Mrs Smith would be delighted if other shops did the same.
“This cannot be done without the public’s help,” she said.
To find out how else you can help, visit the Acts of Kindness Inverness and the Highlands Facebook page.
