Social media groups Art on the Town, Giving In Bermuda and Helping Out In Any Way (Bermuda) want to present 300 shoeboxes filled with goodies to elderly or infirm patients at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s Extended Care Unit, Meals On Wheels clients, as well as patients at Agape House.

Spokesperson for the first-time, three-organisation drive, Tricia Walters, said: “We’re appealing for anyone to help by donating a box filled with items, if they can.”

She asked donors to keep the boxes unisex, or mark them specifically for a man or a woman.

Drop-off is planned for December 23 at KEMH for the attention of Anna Novak, and Meals on Wheels, for the attention of Allison Garland.

Mrs Walters suggested that socks, woolly hats or scarves, sugar-free candy, nuts or healthy treats could be included.

She also suggested hot chocolate powder, new coffee mugs, writing paper and envelopes or cards, board games and puzzles (wrapped rather than placed in shoeboxes), new alarm clocks, body cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste, pencils or pens, something cute and funny, crosswords or word search books, magazines, books or anything else donors deem suitable.

Added Ms Walters: “Drop-offs for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital can be made at Montrose Cottage, which is the yellow cottage on right as you come in through the Berry Hill Entrance, from 10.30am to 5pm on Tuesday, the 23rd of December.

“I will be available to receive boxes in the HR conference room — it’s on road level and the door will be propped open with signs pointing the way.”

She reminded donors not to include any foodstuffs inside the packages.

“The packages we have received we will carefully open and remove — donating these items to Meals on Wheels. The hospital has pointed out that many of the patients receiving these gifts have allergies and other conditions.”

Contact Mrs Walters at triciaclairewalters@gmail.com for further information.