Happy Friday: Saying Thanks

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Sent from reader, Kerry:

My Mom lives in a nursing home and enjoys giving small gifts at Christmas to everyone who helps make her life so comfortable. This means she wants to thank her nurses and nursing aides, the housekeepers, the cooks and dietary aids, the maintenance department, the gardener, and the activities staff. She needs 75-80 gifts to thank all 3 shifts of employees. (The nursing home does not allow staff to accept monetary gifts.)

Thanks to Hip2Save, I collect “deals” throughout the year and then make “sets” of gift items. I package the gifts in clear cellophane bags with some paper shreds in the bottom so that the gift can be seen. They include everything from gloves, hand cream, bags of chocolates, foaming hand soaps, Christmas ornaments, ear buds, batteries, packages of pens, all the things you post on Hip2Save.

During the week before Christmas, my Mom calls every person to her room to wish them a Merry Christmas. She has a basket (with 15-20 gifts at a time) on her table and she lets each person choose a gift. They can see what is inside and pick something they like. My Mom loves having the company and her caregivers enjoy looking through the basket. This will be the third year we’ve done this and I thought your readers might enjoy this idea as a way of thanking nursing home staff!

HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀

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Do you have a funny, “Hip”, or unique photo to share?! Email us at happyfriday@hip2save(dot)com. Every Friday, we post one photo, submitted by a Hip2Save reader, that gives us a glimpse into their frugal lifestyle or simply makes us smile. If your photo is published on Hip2Save, we’ll email you a $10 Amazon e-card![/h2s_box]

Join The Discussion

Comments 156

  1. Myrtle

    This is so sweet!

  2. Cindy

    That is awesome!

  3. Elizabeth M.

    That is just beautiful:-)

  4. Swirlypop

    That is so sweet! Warms my heart. 😍

  5. Jeanne

    So heart warming. You two are so sweet! Thanks for sharing!

  6. Amanda C

    This is so touching, and very, very sweet. It’s really encouraging and inspiring to see people with such a giving mindset. Your mom AND you, for spending all that time and energy seeking deals. Great story!

  7. Michelle

    That is a great idea. So thoughtful 🙂 Merry Christmas to you and your mom!

  8. monica

    awwwwwwww. good stuff

  9. Angela V.

    That made me teary eyed to read. That is so sweet and thoughtful of you and your mom. I’m sure it means a lot to her caregivers. 🙂

    • Cami

      Agreed!! So generous and thoughtful of both of you 🙂

  10. Mommyof6

    This is amazing! You both must be very special people. Merry Christmas!

  11. Darcie

    I love this! There is always more love and thoughtfulness needed at nursing homes. This touched my heart!

  12. Nikki

    I’m 29 now but when I was 15 to 16 years old I was a waitress at a nursing home. I loved all the folks there. They are the sweetest!

  13. Joy

    Best Happy Friday post ever! I think she should get one of those big Amazon gift cards that wasn’t claimed today. 🙂

    • Lisa

      Seconded.

    • Jen

      I definitely agree with you! I love this post!

    • Debby

      I “third” that as well!!!😃
      It’s a wonderful reminder to all of us during this hectic busy time to make sure we don’t forget the real meaning of the holidays!!🎄🎄 Merry Christmas to all of you… And may all your lives be touched with love, kindness and peace!

    • sarah

      This is what I was going to say too. God bless you and your mom. 😊

  14. Loren

    That is awesome on many levels.

  15. Jennifer Blevins

    Love this!

  16. Melanie

    Awesome!!!!

  17. Mahreen

    This is very sweet. God bless you guys.

  18. Pharmchick

    So sweet and awesome!

  19. Susie

    That’s so sweet. 🙂

  20. Jean

    That is so special. Brought tears to my eyes! Merry Xmas!

  21. Ger

    Love this! 🙂

  22. Laura

    Wonderful and so thoughtful of you both!

  23. Sue

    That’s sweet and so giving. So very thoughtful.

  24. AGF

    Oh, I love this! I sometimes donate stuff like this to my local nursing home for them to give out as bingo prizes. The ladies love all the lipstick I donate. 🙂 Kerry obviously learned her kindness and thoughtfulness from her mom. Please give her a hug. I’ll bet she’s a sweetheart!

  25. moira

    That is awesome!! I’m glad she is in a place where people care for her the way she deserves.

  26. Catie

    Wonderful idea! So touching

  27. stacie

    This is a great idea! What a caring mother and daughter duo to gift to all those people who aide in the mother’s care year around!

  28. couponlovingmommy

    So sweet!

  29. floridagld

    I agree..love this..My granddad was in a nursing home..some of these people are beyond lonely and pitiful.

  30. Anna

    That is awesome!

  31. brandice

    Awesome….

  32. Denise

    This beautiful story brought tears to my eyes. Blessings of health and happiness to you & your mom. Great photo!

  33. Tobey

    I think I am going to cry. That is the sweetest thing. Not just for her to want to thank everyone but how wonderful you are to put them all together. Collin sure makes spreading good cheer easy. My son is 6 and loves giving gifts to all the teachers in the school. Because of Colin’s post he is able to do it. Happy holidays to all!

    • Katrina

      I was thinking this too! Like mother like daughter. You both have kind spirits 🙂

    • Cathy

      I love this! What a great way to say thank you! There was a huge discussion a few days ago about teacher gifts–something like this would be WONDERFUL! I’m picturing my little kiddos going teacher to teacher with a basket!

  34. Terry Carr

    That’s terrific 🙂 Thanks for sharing.

  35. Tamara

    Bless you both!

  36. Amanda

    This is amazing and so thoughtful of you! I bet the people LOVE it.

    Just as an FYI – my Perfectly Posh business has a special going on right now (through tonight) with FREE direct shipping and FREE Santa’s Little Healer for each order. You could order a $2 closeout lip balm, have it shipped to you, and get a $12 Santa’s Little Healer for FREE – all for $2 plus tax. These would make amazing gifts for these cases!

    http://www.ohmyposhajk.com

  37. Mella

    How sweet!

  38. Patricia

    That’s beautiful. Your mother has a beautiful heart. Happy Thanksgiving to your mom.

  39. Roxanne

    What an amazing idea!

  40. Mo

    That is just wonderful! Your mom sounds like a very sweet and thoughtful person – and it seems you are just like her! How nice of you to help her!! Merry Christmas to you all!

  41. Mo

    God bless you. Your mother raised a very special girl. May you both have a blessed holiday.

  42. NANNYROSE

    Awww, Heartwarming!

  43. Katrina

    Wow! Great idea 🙂 I bet everyone loves your mama. She sounds like a very kind woman.

  44. Angelica

    I completely teared up reading this. It is the small things in life that will always mean more to someone. Showing true appreciation is a fantastic gift to give and receive. I’m thankful that I read this site and grab great gifts that don’t hurt my slim wallet and can give more. You never know how a simple act of kindness can change the world.

    • Lisha

      How true “u never know how a simple act of kindness can change the world”

  45. Rimma

    That is so sweet!

  46. Shelly B

    I am so moved… 😊 God bless

  47. Ashley

    I think this is such a thoughtful and caring idea. Im a cna in a nursing home for people with dementia and sometimes we do feel unappreciated by other staff and nothing makes us feel more better than when a resident tells us how much they appreciate what we do. You and your mother sound like wonderful women and the nursing home is lucky to have someone thoughtful like her!

  48. Maria

    Very sweet story.
    Thank you for sharing.

  49. Kristen

    Aww how sweet!!! 🙂 that’s awesome!

  50. Nan

    Beautiful ! Thank you for your amazing work!!

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