Ensuring our residents and clients remain connected while being apart has been one of the main goals of the Mission team.

Following the COVID-19 restrictions, the team started the Cards of Love project, which provided materials for our aged care residents to create their own personalised cards for their family and friends.

The Mission team are now busy working on their second project, Hearts of Love. They aim to make 200 colourful hand-sewn and decorated ‘welcome’ hearts for new residents, and 200 red sympathy hearts for families.

Liz Winston, Mission Team Leader says the Mission team have created packs of materials for interested volunteers.

“The project has been a wonderful way for our volunteers who regularly visit our residences to stay in touch and continue to provide a service to VMCH by using their creative skills at home,” says Liz.

“We have had quite a few volunteers and staff take up the offer to create the hearts. I like to call it ’craft with purpose’ and it is truly a project of love!”

Liz says the sympathy hearts will be given to families of residents at end of life, along with a sympathy card with messages from residents and staff, and a bookmark. The heart will be sent with the message:

Little by little, we let go of loss
but never of the love in our heart.

“We wanted to give a token of remembrance for families to keep and hopefully it will be a small kindness we can offer at a difficult time for family and friends.

“It is amazing to see all the unique hearts returning. It is another reminder of the wonderful ways our volunteers contribute to help others.”