Link to Hope.
The theme for this month on the Link to Hope Calendar is elderly gifts. For older people to use and enjoy, – mug, spoon, cutlery, sensory items, reading glasses, head scarves.
There are a few items that I try to add to my elderly boxes. I always add a hot water bottle. In previous years I’ve managed to get small hot water bottles with covers reduced in the January sales at Dunelm, but they didn’t seem to have any this year. Proper Job which has a chain mainly in the south west, have 500ml hot water bottles for £1.20 – they do sell online and have several other bargains including sets with 2 packs of playing cards and 5 dice for £1.00. https://www.properjob.biz
The other item I try to add to the elderly shoeboxes is a wind-up/hand crank torch. These are great for homes with limited or intermittent power supplies. Amazon have had some good options so far this year. I bought 24 for £24.99 earlier this year, these have now gone up to £39.23 but this is less than £1.70 per torch. Cheaper still and better value at the moment are these 10 wind up torches XIAOJUN 10X 3 LED Dynamo Wind Up Flashlight Hand-Pressing Crank No Battery Torch : Amazon.co.uk: Lighting for £11.58 so £1.16 per torch but there are only a few left, or https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FCRN166B?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title for £12.25 so less than £1.23 per torch. If you just need one torch then this Rolson torch https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B003KGB992 is probably the best values at the time of writing though has gone up to £3.50 for one torch.
I also add reading glasses, these need to be a maximum strength of +2, or add a magnifying glass. Poundland have some deals if you buy 3 pairs of glasses.
As in previous years I add Aldi’s 3 in 1 Body, Hair, Face wash wish is currently 69p. I choose this because of its versatility to be used as a shampoo as many people won’t have access to a shower but can still use it to wash their hair. It says it’s men’s on the label but I think the scent is suitable for women as well.
The elderly shoeboxes should be gender neutral, if possible, but as it’s good to add something special, I usually add a headscarf and a brooch or necklace. I then balance that out by adding a tie, safety razors, or cotton handkerchiefs.
A mug, wooden spoon, cutlery, and paper and pen are all great gender-neutral items to add and can be picked up reasonably cheaply if you shop around. Work gloves or gardening gloves and a trowel or hand fork – but remember don’t add seeds as these are not permitted by customs. There are also suggestions on the family list which would be suitable such as a hairbrush and comb, sewing kit, DIY tool or tape measure.
Try and add gifts that are practical and special, to make the recipient feel valued and cared about.
You can now purchase flat packed shoeboxes from Link to Hope. The price varies depending on the quantity you order, and 5 is the minimum quantity. You don’t have to use their shoeboxes; they are just an added option for anyone struggling to find shoeboxes. I manage to get mine from a local independent running shoe shop. I try and pick them up out throughout the year rather than waiting till October/November. If you have an Ikea store nearby, they sell a Vattentrag cardboard box with hinged lid for 50p. It’s 32x23x10cm.
The Farm Animal Sanctuary
Last month saw the Farm Animal Sanctuary Spring Open Weekend. The weather stayed dry and was sunny on the Saturday but was quite cold in the barn on the Sunday, but the stall holders survived with hot drinks from Golden Glaze Doughnuts 😊. The open weekend was well supported and helped raise funds for the sanctuary. I received lots of lovely comments about the items on my stall and more importantly raised some money for them.
I was visited by this inquisitive hen and these two naughty geese 🙂
The Sanctuary hosted their first Sheepover of the year last month and are hosting another on 27th June. In July they are hosting the Freedom Fields Festival 2026 from 24th – 26th July. More information and to purchase tickets go to their website.
https://thefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk/
Bargain Buys
The only bargain I’ve found so far in a shop is a colouring book from Tesco for 50p. I wasn’t entirely sure if it was going to be 50p as the label was for a different book, so I only took one to the check out. Thankfully it was 50p. I’ve ordered a few things from Temu which had vouchers to further reduce the price, including brooches and purses. My main buy was some small football pumps which I bought from Temu for 93p each which is much cheaper than anywhere else currently, and some uninflated footballs from eBay for 80p each (I did have to buy 20 footballs to get that price.) They take up so little room in the shoeboxes. (I might have to see if I can find any cheap puncture repair kits!)
Thank you to Mags for the following tip about shampoo bars. eBay have 12 Foamie Shampoo Bars for £10.99 with free delivery – roughly 92p per bar. I’ve ordered some to add to my family boxes. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186906864097
Do keep an eye on sites like Freegle and Freecycle, for suitable items people are giving away for free that they no longer want. Last month I picked up 3 pairs of braces which will go in my elderly boxes. I’d said that the braces were to go in Link to Hope Shoe boxes, and when I went to collect them, the gentleman gave me several wrapped bamboo toothbrushes, some men’s socks and a shoebox 😊. I missed out on a collection of small candles and holders and several pairs of pliers that someone posted a couple of days ago.
Till next month.