TWO women from Flint have been running a present appeal for elderly people that would otherwise spend the Christmas season alone.

Jade Evans and Iesha Mossman had the idea to help about four years ago and learnt about the reality of loneliness in elderly people that was right on their doorstep after speaking to Rhiwlas Care Home in Flint.

Jade, a mum-of-one said: “It was coming up to Christmas and we were having a conversation about how some elderly don’t have anyone, friends or family at Christmas, which then encouraged me to call our local care home to see if there were any residents that were in this position. To our disbelief there were quite a few residents that didn’t have any family or friends.”

This sparked a tradition that the friends would buy gifts themselves but wanted to do more as the years went on.

After taking to social media, the women were “overwhelmed” with donations and also found other people that wanted to come into the care home, based on Northop Road, to hand the presents out.

Jade said: “We normally call ahead of our visit and ask which residents don’t have any friends or family visiting and staff give us their names, along with their likes and dislikes. This allows us to then personalise each gift bag to each resident.”

Jade and her ‘Christmas elves’ normally visit the care home on Christmas Eve where they will go around and spend a little time with each resident and present them with their gifts – which can include gifts sets, socks, gloves, dressing gowns, slippers, toiletries, chocolates, biscuits, sweets and many other items depending on donations.

She said: “They are normally more appreciative of our time than the gifts but never the less every resident has some little presents to open on Christmas Day.”

This year, Jade wants to branch out and get enough donations to cover more care homes as the heart-breaking issue of loneliness continues to grow across the country.

Data published by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in 2017 revealed that the town of Flint was identified as one of ten areas across North Wales where residents aged 65 and over were at the highest risk of people experiencing loneliness.

People can donate items to Jade and Iesha’s present appeal by dropping them off at Bella Boutique in Flint’s Church Street or Totally Polished in Quay Shopping Centre, Deeside.