Residents, staff and supporters at Torkington House care home in Acton have come together to donate warm clothing to a local homeless shelter as part of the home’s annual Warmth of Care winter campaign.
More than 15 packages of warm clothing items – from socks to cosy jumpers and woolly hats – were collected at the Ealing home, with contributions from staff, residents’ relatives, visitors and volunteers. The donations were received on behalf of St Mary’s Church in Acton by Reverend Sarah Miller, who supports the church’s work with people experiencing homelessness in the local area.
Torkington House is a long-standing residential and dementia care home on Creswick Road. The Warmth of Care campaign encourages care homes and their communities to come together each winter to spread kindness, comfort and connection. The donation marks the third consecutive year the home has supported a local charity as part of the campaign.
Margaret Siriwardena, who has been Torkington’s home manager for over 20 years, said: “As a long-standing care home in Acton, we believe it’s incredibly important to support our local community. The fantastic donations from our relatives, team and others are a real team effort, and I’d particularly like to thank our Activities Coordinator for ensuring the Warmth of Care campaign continues to be a success year on year. It truly reflects the spirit of spreading warmth, kindness and care beyond our home.”
St Mary’s Church has been strengthening its relationship with Torkington House, with visitors attending the home regularly. Reverend Miller officially received the donations after joining residents and staff to help mark Big Warm Up, an afternoon tea celebration held at the home on 5 February as part of the Warmth of Care campaign.
Reverend Sarah Miller said: “We really enjoy visiting the home and spending time with the residents and team. We’re very, very grateful for all the fantastic donations which will really add to the night shelter we’ll be hosting at St Mary’s for six Sundays from 22 February – offering guests a warm place to sleep, a hot meal and breakfast. There are many people who are getting very cold at this time of year because they don’t have a permanent address. I’m looking forward to seeing some people putting the clothes on and walking away knowing that they’ll be warmer.”