Community / ‘Wonderful support’ for Hansel fae Hame student appeal
NEARLY 60 students on the mainland have been selected to receive a ‘Peerie Hansel fae Hame’ in a show of support from those back in Shetland.
The project aims to deliver a surprise gift from the isles at a time when students may be struggling at university accommodation during the pandemic.
People were encouraged to donate knitted items, and the Shetland public did so in their droves – with 60 pieces sent in and £500 raised for postage and other bits and bobs.
Students nominated by folk at home have already been receiving parcels, with one saying they shed tears of joy when they opened it up.
One parent commented: “You’ve done a wonderful thing. I have two girls at uni and they are finding it hard going, as they won’t make it home for Christmas. Lots of tears of joy and appreciation for the hansels this morning. Thank you so much.”
The idea came from Yvonne Reynolds, the lifelong learning officer at the Shetland Museum and Archives.
“The appeal has had wonderful support from the community, we have received the most fabulous selection of knitwear and generous money donations from people throughout Shetland, from Unst to Fair Isle,” she said.
“We want to thank all those who got in touch and took part, your support has made this project a great success.
“It was World Kindness Day on Friday 13th November and we thought that would be a fitting day to post the parcels. We have already received several messages from grateful parents and surprised students who have just opened their hansel from Shetland.”
Each parcel contained an item of knitwear, body wash from Shetland Soap Company, Puffin Poo from Island Larder, a Shetland flag pin badge and a card explaining their surprise gift.
Any students receiving a parcel is asked to share images on Instagram using the hashtag #apeeriehanselfaehame.
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