Caring 8-year-old girl gives 'virtual hugs' and handmade gifts to care home every day for 5 months

An eight-year-old girl has spent every day for the past five months visiting a care home to leave gifts of handmade friendship bracelets, flowers and ‘virtual hugs’.

Jess Nolan has been spending lockdown dropping off gifts at the entrance of Anchor Hanover’s Oakwood Grange care home in Barnsley to cheer residents up.

“I’ve really enjoyed making things for the care home every day to cheer the people up because they haven’t been seeing their families and that can make people sad,” Jess said.

“Even the staff have to stay away from people too because they have to look after the people that live in the care home.

“I want to do what I can to help make people happy, and I love bringing them gifts.”

Jess’s efforts include creating a ‘virtual hug’ made from two handprints tied together with a piece of string.

She has also made friendship bracelets and a ‘beach in a shoebox’ to give residents and staff a reminder of summer holidays.

The schoolgirl’s efforts were prompted by her mother Donna Harrison-Rhodes seeing a Facebook post from the care home which asked the public to send artwork to residents.

Since March, the little girl has shown an unshakeable determination to fulfil their request even though she can is unable to visit residents in person.

The thoughtful gifts have led to tearful staff posting thank-you notes on the care home’s front door for the little girl.

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