After Santa’s been to visit us with his elves, very early on Christmas Day, there’ll again be additional activity that lunchtime thanks to Ruddington’s own little helpers.
As in previous years, they’re being co-ordinated by ‘chief elf’ Laura Ratcliffe, of Ruddington Mums (pictured top), to deliver festive meals all around our village to older residents who it’s known will be spending the big day alone.
“We have a team of volunteer elves again who are serving an extra home cooked Christmas Day dinner and delivering it to the elderly residents of Ruddington who will be on their own on December 25th” explains Laura. “It’s the third Christmas we have done this – and last time it was for seven Ruddington residents who would be alone on Christmas Day. One of the ladies last year had had a fall on Christmas Day and couldn’t reach her phone. She’d been waiting for her elf while on the floor for hours but, thankfully, knew someone was coming. Her elf called for an ambulance, which was going to be 6 hours, and so the other elves grouped together and we took turns in pairs to go and sit with the lady – making sure she was warm, chatting and had the right tv channel on”.
This year Laura is hoping to boost the numbers further by encouraging villagers to nominate an elderly person in Ruddington who would really appreciate being cooked for: “We are really grateful to our pool of ‘Elves’ who put themselves forward to plate up an extra dinner on the day – then take it to the door of someone who is happy to receive this wonderful gesture from fellow villagers/neighbours. The referrals are received from the Rushcliffe CVS, the Ruddington Medical Centre and the Wednesday Morning Coffee Club. But we also shout out for any referrals on socials” she says.
So far this year they have 5 on their list: 4 of whom are ‘regulars’. Ruddington Mums have until Wednesday 20th December at 5pm to confirm any last minute additions to this list.
“I receive name/address/’phone numbers and call each person in advance to confirm they are still happy to receive the dinner and for me to pass on their address to their personal elf” adds Laura. “They will also be given a delivery window which is decided by each elf so they know when to expect someone.”
So if you know anyone in Ruddington who will be home alone on the 25th, and would really appreciate a quick ‘elf’ visit with their Christmas Day dinner, please message Ruddington Mums on Facebook as soon as possible – and by this Wednesday at 5pm at the latest. Thank you.
