Watford hero Lynne Misner sends fleecy blankets, socks and gloves to elderly people who may not be able to afford heating during the winter months. 

Lynne, our community hero this week, runs a charity called Small Acts of Kindness which sends gift packages to help elderly people affected by deprivation and loneliness in Hertfordshire. 

The gifts don't just help older people keep warm, they also help those who are isolated and lonely feel loved. 

Lynne launched her charity in 2015 after her central heating had broken and was made aware about impacts of heating deprivation on people who were unable to afford it. 

She said: “I read an article about the impact of the cold on older people and when the weather turns cold people have to choose between eating and being warm due to fixed income and that really shocked me.

Read more: The 11-year-old boy who inspires classmates by helping homeless people

“There are various factors to deprivation and people can end up lonely and isolated and the impact on the physical and mental well being can really be quite strong.

“Research show the more social connections you have the less likely you are to feel lonely. 

“When people receive one of our bags, they’re overwhelmed that someone would bring them a gift like that, and they then want to break the cycle of loneliness because they feel so upbeat.”

The gift bags also include information about services in their area as well as activities to help increase their social conditions and connect communities.

Read more: Grandfather who was the heartbeat of a village dies aged 90

Over the four years the charity has managed to deliver more than 15,000 gifts bags helping the quality of life of older people across Hertfordshire. 

Lynne added: “It gives a bit of a sad insight into how many people there are suffering with deprivation and the only way we’ve been able to do this is the tremendous partnerships we have and our wonderful family of volunteers who come together to make this all happen. 
Before 2018 she was working full time and juggling her charity spending weekend and evenings to keep it running.

“We want this to be a project replicated in other parts of the UK and it is our business plan to make that happen because the problems elderly face in Hertfordshire are not exclusive.”

When told she won the community hero award, Lynne said: “I’ve very flattered that somebody nominated me and I’m very thankful to all the people who makes Small Acts of Kindness happen.”