Christmas TikTok appeal gets a fantastic response for North Devon nursing home

Ilfracombe’s Edenmore Nursing Home has been overwhelmed by an outpouring of generosity this Christmas, after receiving more than £500 worth of gifts for its residents, through a TikTok campaign run by a relative of a person living in the care home.

The campaign was started by Charmain Lovett whose dad Harry lives at Edenmore. In early November, Charmain shared a short video on TikTok, inviting anyone who was able to donate a small gift via an Amazon wish list she had put together.

While staff ensure everyone living at the home receives a personalised Christmas gift, Charmain wanted to set up her own initiative so the home might receive a collection of shared gifts, activities and treats for everyone to enjoy together.

The idea was inspired in part by an online friend of Charmain’s, who had previously run a similar campaign for her nan, Beryl, called Beryl’s Christmas.

Above: Some of the gifts purchased through Charmain Lovett’s Christmas TikTok appeal for Edenmore Nursing Home in Ilfracombe.

The response to the campaign was immediate. Charmain said: “Literally within the first 24 hours, all of it had been sold almost, so I just kept topping it up with little bits and pieces. People are just amazing. I can’t wrap my head around it.”

For Charmain, the campaign was deeply personal. She said: “It's a bit of a different one for us this Christmas, because my mum passed away earlier on in the year.

“Gayle, the home manager at Edenmore, was just brilliant and really supportive of me, my brother Will and dad in that time. So I just thought it'd be a really nice thing to do something nice back for them.”

READ NEXT: Generous North Devon produces an amazing response for The Voice Toy Appeal

Harry has lived at Edenmore since April. Described as ‘a proper London boy’ by his daughter, Harry was a chauffeur and worked for Rolls-Royce for a time. 

Charmain added: “One thing that he's always been almost obsessive about is making sure that he knows where his car keys are. So Gayle's husband made him a little set with a tag saying Harry's keys. So he's always got his keys in his pocket.”

Harry also worked in construction and labouring and loves fixing things, so the home also got him a plastic toolbox set to tinker with around the home.

Above: Harry Lovett at Edenmore with home manager Gayle.

Charmain said: “It was those sorts of things that made a big difference to dad's happiness there. So when I was doing the wish list, I was making sure that I was putting activity items in as well. So it wasn't all just about chocolates and body spray!”

The gifts have now been dropped off at the home, along with notes from the senders, to be sorted for Christmas Day.

Home manager Gayle said: “It means everything to the team and I that Charmain thought of us.

“We are all truly touched by the kindness and generosity of everyone who sent a gift. Thank you from all of us at Edenmore.”

READ NEXT: Exmoor Zoo brings the wild to Edenmore Nursing Home

Everyone at the home has been busy preparing for the festive celebrations over the last few weeks, painting decorations, writing their Christmas cards and hosting their own carols-by-candlelight. 

Edenmore offers the reassurance of 24-hour nursing care so that help is always available when needed, without delays or waiting for support to arrive. To find out more, visit https://www.edenmorenursinghome.com