Generous St Patrick's Primary pupils help patients at Vale of Leven Hospital over Christmas

04.01.2023 - 20:29 / dailyrecord.co.uk

Generous senior pupils at St Patrick’s Primary in Dumbarton helped make Christmas a little brighter for those in need of a boost.

The big-hearted youngsters, who are working towards their Pope Francis Award, helped bring together gifts for patients receiving care in the Vale of Leven Hospital over Christmas.

Previously sales from the Vale’s popular tea bar would go towards spreading a little Christmas cheer in the hospital, however restrictions introduced during the pandemic mean it’s still to return to a full service.

That’s when the kind pupils stepped up to help.

Pauline Thumath helped to organise the collection, which was linked to the Railing of Care initiative at St Patrick’s Church.

She told the Lennox: “The Railing of Care spread to St Patrick’s Primary School, and their deputy head teacher Mrs Gardiner asked how the school could help the community.

“I told them about the tea bar at the Vale of Leven Hospital being closed since Covid.

“The profits from the tea bar normally help to get a wee present for everyone in hospital to help cheer them up a wee bit.

“The upper school did a fantastic collection last year to make sure everyone at the Vale Hospital got a present.

“Two wards in Clydebank’s Golden Jubilee also got gifts as well.

“This year Mrs Gardiner got in touch to say that the P6s and P7s had decided that, for their Pope Francis Award, they were going to support the Vale of Leven Hospital again.

“They invited one of the hospital directors, Margaret O’Rourke, to the school to see their work.

“The children have gone to the bother of wrapping every single box of chocolates, drawing wee get well soon messages on them. Some had even written little poems to help cheer people up.

“It was such a beautiful experience.”

Pauline