AHEAD of Random Acts of Kindness Day, tomorrow (Saturday) a funeral home in Warrington has partnered with a local crafting group to crochet “pocket hugs” to share with the community.
As part of its ongoing community support initiatives, members of the Co-op Funeralcare Warrington team, the Co-op Operations Board and crafting group Friends of St Elphins Park’ have crocheted a number of small hearts, called “pocket hugs” to spread love amongst the community.
The crochet heart project was originally thought up by Tracy Sankey-Jones, Care Logistics Lead at Co-op Funeralcare Warrington. After the donation of materials from Andrea, daughter of enthusiastic crafter Dorothy Moss who sadly died in December, the project was picked up by the rest of the funeralcare team, including funeral arrangers Emma Newton, Barry Openshaw and Sarah Roberts, and funeral director Kirsten Fox.
Following Dorothy’s funeral, the family approached funeral arranger Sarah Roberts to ask where they could donate Dorothy’s unused crafting materials, and the home team happily took them in aid of the community project.
The crochet hearts are being used for a community activity around Warrington which will become an ongoing project. Two hearts have been packaged up with a special poem and placed around the town for people within the community to find. Each packet features a QR code that, when scanned, will link the finder to a community Facebook page where they can share photos of the pocket hug and where they found it.
Hannah Paddon, funeral services manager at Co-op Funeralcare Warrington, said: “Our team members are always keen to support the community however we can and our ‘pocket hugs’ will help to bring the community together. Everyone is invited to take part in the search for them and we’re excited to spread some good feelings this February!
“Once discovered the finder can keep one heart and either pass the second one on to someone special or re-hide it for others to find.
“The project has provided us the perfect opportunity to raise community spirit during Barnardo’s Fundraising Week and a way to honour Dorothy through the use of her crochet materials. As a member-owned business, our purpose is giving back to the local community which is why we’re proud to be bringing Warrington together and spreading the love.”
To find out more about Co-op Funeralcare’s Warrington Funeralcare and the community support they offer, visit https://www.coop.co.uk/funeralcare/funeral-directors/search/warrington
