A new community group, launched at the beginning of October to support worthy causes in the Plymouth area, raised £2,415 in its first two months and has gifted the money to a dementia care home in St Budeaux.

Hearts and Smiles Together is a group of seven friends who collect donations and sell items for a reasonable price via Facebook. All members have been involved in fundraising in the past and recently took the decision to fundraise together for small local organisations that get no funding and struggle to raise income themselves.

Group member Colette Thompson said: “Selling inexpensive items via Facebook not only raises money for good causes, it helps people who might be struggling with the cost of living at prices they can afford.

“We have also been running pop-up table-top sales for our craft items, with tombolas to add a little extra fun!”

The dementia care home that is benefitting from the group’s initial fundraising drive is Butterfly Lodge, where Colette works as a healthcare assistant.

Colette said: “I have worked with people with dementia for 10 years now and been at Butterfly Lodge since 2019, so I’ve seen how Covid affected so many residents’ lives and how much they have missed out on in these precious years of their lives.

“The money we’re gifting to Butterfly Lodge will go towards their outings and more activities for the residents.

“We are also producing Christmas gift bags for each of the ladies and gents who live there.

“The staff at Butterfly Lodge do such an amazing job looking after people living with dementia and it’s great to be able to help them offer some extra treats to their lovely residents.” 

The second cause chosen by Hearts and Smiles Together to benefit from their fundraising throughout January, is Debbie’s Days which aims to improve the lives of an Ernesettle woman with multiple health issues.

The group intends to help fund a motorised wheelchair and a tablet with the technology to speak for Debbie, helping her and her family to create happy memories whatever the future holds for her. Items on sale from Hearts and Smiles Together can be found at https://bit.ly/3j20Q1v

Butterfly Lodge is run by award-winning care providers Camelot Care who also have care homes in Wellington and Bridgwater in Somerset and are opening a fourth in Yeovil in the New Year. See www.camelotcare.co.uk