A charity has created a new scheme after a donation of a realistic baby doll led to an influx of requests.
Kindness of Strangers, which has a store on Derry's Castle Street, had been given a Baby Reborn doll, which are made to look incredibly realistic.
While looking for a good home for this doll, the charity received heart-breaking messages in behalf of vulnerable adults and dementia patients, who often find great comfort in taking care of dolls such as these.
Read more: Derry group spread positivity through city centre on World Kindness Day
Jacqueline Williamson, Chief Executive of Kinship Care NI spoke to MyDerry about this incredibly special project.
Jacqueline said: "The person who had donated the doll was a vulnerable adult who looked after the doll as if it was her own child. We would have no intentions of selling it, the doll was very well cared for and it got us thinking it would be nice for someone else to take it and look after it.
"We put it on Facebook looking for vulnerable adults or those with dementia who would benefit from looking after the doll, and we were inundated with messages. What was interesting was the sadness of the stories, some were heart-breaking, from young people to old people.
"There was one from a young girl whose child was taken from her and it has been hard for her to come to terms with it. Another was a girl with down syndrome with no friends and it was to keep her company and confide in. But most were from those dealing with dementia, being confused and unsettled.
"We allocated the doll to the dementia ward of Altnagelvin, we got several dolls which the staff took home to clean up and look after. We got a brand new one donated from a lady who makes these dolls that went to a lady with dementia.
"The family member initially had sent through a photo of her mum looking very sad and confused, and when she had received the doll we received another photo where she was happy and cuddling it. The difference was amazing."
Now, the charity have created a Dolls of Hope scheme, through which they are looking to send dolls to vulnerable adults who would be comforted in looking after the doll.
Jacqueline said: "We have 12 shops across NI and people started to bring in dolls, I have a box in front of me with seven dolls in it. We are looking to allocate a minimum of two dolls into old peoples homes. Based on what I have seen in the impact that doll has had on that lady it is the cheapest way to bring a smile to someone who is so confused. It makes a real big impact.
"For us, we have set up a project specifically for this, we will be setting up a Facebook page to share with donors where their dolls have gone and how they are getting on. It is a very emotive thing and I take my hat off to those looking after people and some people sometimes do not even know who they are."
Kindness of Strangers have seen plenty of donations since the initial appeal was launched, but say they are always open to more.
"Get the doll into us, as long as it has all of its limbs we will take it and look after it and transform it. The staff are taking real pride in fixing them up. Even build-a-bear is suitable as well to donate. If you have this stuff lying about do donate it to us."
As well as this special appeal, Kindness of Strangers will also be running the Kindship Care Christmas Appeal wishing tree, where members of the public can pick a child's Christmas wish and make it come true
Jacqueline said: "People can go in and pick up a child's wish, buy the wish and support a child in care. We are also supporting children who are homeless, in supported accommodation and on the edge of care.
"We hope to support 1,500 youngsters this Christmas, we will only be able to do that through the kindness of our strangers. If anyone has Santa perfect toys clean and intact bring them in to us we would be delighted to have them, especially in respect to teenagers.
"We also have our special cases of exceptional children who have had to rise above difficult circumstances. If anyone has any money to help donate to these special cases we would be delighted to talk to them."
READ NEXT:
Derry MLA shares story of how photo of late sister came back to him
- Foyle Film Festival seeks foodbank donations instead of admission fees
- New book tells story of US war hero at rest in Derry's City Cemetery
- NI family's tribute to loving wife and mother-of-two after brave cancer battle
To get the latest breaking news from Co Derry straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
