Staff from DePuy Synthes in Beeston rounded off an amazing year of fundraising and volunteering by delivering 217 Christmas dinners to elderly members of MHA Communities South Leeds (formerly the South Leeds Live At Home Scheme) last week (10-11 December 2020).
In past years the company has hosted a community Christmas dinner in its canteen, with carols sung by children from Hugh Gaitsakell Primary School. That wasn’t possible this yeare due to the pandemic, but the team decided that if the people couldn’t come to DePuy, DePuy would come to them.
Kerry Seymour, who co-ordinates DePuy’s community involvement commented:
“I was extremely sad that the children not involved this year due to Covid, but throughout the year we have continued to work with the school doing lots of virtual STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) events including mental health and wellbeing virtual sessions with the girls in Year 6 and provided them all with goody bags and journals.
“Everyone we visited was so happy and thankful. It was very heartwarming and emotional for me.
“Through this year we have continued to support the Holbeck and Beeston Foodbank raising over £14,000 to help go towards feeding those less fortunate than ourselves and have continued providing supplies and helping with home deliveries. We have also donated over £5,000 to the South Leeds Live at Home pensioners scheme and continued to help with their meals on wheels service and volunteered for their befriending scheme.
“It’s been inspirational … we have managed to donate over 10,000 volunteering hours and over £50,000 to local charities during lockdown as well as supporting many national charities. I am blown away my our employees’ spirit and commitment to helping our local Beeston community.”
Sara Cooper from MHA Communities South Leeds said:
“We saw the year out which has seen us have overwhelming support from Kerry and Depuy during the pandemic and she wasn’t going to let our members down without a Christmas celebration. So she took the Christmas celebration to them with doorstep festive deliveries. With an army of helpers, 217 dinners were no problem at all. It was an overwhelming success and heartfelt thanks from all us at MHA Communities South Leeds.”
I would like to say on behalf of Maple Court Wesley approch LS118RS a massive thank you to each & everyone of you beautiful people for delivering 47 Christmas lunches to our residents. We was overwhelmed by your generosity, We don’t often get lovely gestures as we are an independent scheme. But throughout this pandemic alot of our customers have not been out or seen their families, everyone has kept safe & well while protecting others. This was very well deserved treat. Thank you DePuy Synthes & your fantastic team of Volunteers also a massive thank you to Sara from Southleeds living at home scheme & staff you’re all amazing with beautiful hearts Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year From Helen & Del location Managers.