Support for Hearts and Crosses Initiative grows

Following widespread support from across the community, our Hearts and Crosses Initiative, originally set up by Hospice Events Fundraiser Lizzie Cross last month, has continued to grow.

Individuals from different Hospice teams are working together, collating orders, occasionally delivering to locations across West Suffolk and Thetford.

People in the wider community have been crafting wooden crosses and hearts as well as crocheting and knitting hearts, everyone is pulling together to make a difference.

Lizzie said: “We have so many people to thank for their support and generosity. We are so grateful to each and every person; your time and kindness is making a big difference to so many.

“To make sure we can get these tokens to those in our community who need them we do need to keep raising funds to pay for postage and extra crosses.”

We have had requests from people in our care currently in isolation, as well as those unable to attend funerals, families marking the anniversary of a loved one’s death and requests from those who want to show someone they are loved.

A woman who is using a heart to maintain a connection with her son while shielding, said: “I keep your heart in my pocket, just holding it makes me feel that I am not alone and you are with me.”

Someone who had been attending our Orchard Day Therapy is using hearts to feel close to a friend in another part of the UK during these uncertain times.

“These little hearts have been so lovely, they brought a tear to our eye when we received them, I keep it on my dressing table and we hold them and think of each other. 

“They have touched us both. Wood has such a tactile quality and holding them gives us comfort that we are not alone, we are holding each other in a way that we can’t do physically, they have given us such comfort.”

One care home resident said: “It is like receiving a hug in my hand.”

The Rev Sister Sharon Connell, the Hospice’s Chaplain and Spiritual Care Coordinator, said: “This initiative is equipping organisations and individuals. It is giving them a way of dealing with isolation and/or grief in such difficult and unprecedented times.

“We are equipping people with the tools they need to support themselves and others through separation and on occasions grief.”

You can support the cost of postage of the hearts and crosses to the community here or by making a donation to the Hospice here.

If you would like to get your knitting needles  or crochet hooks out for us, thank you, all welcome. Outside the Hospice there is a drop off box.

If you or someone you care for would like either a heart or cross, please get in touch by emailing: spiritualcare@stnh.org.uk