03 August 2025
Each winter for seven years now, Salisbury, a vibrant South Australian community, comes together for an initiative by the Salisbury Lions Club that perfectly captures what it means to care for one another – Blanket Salisbury with Love.
Each winter for seven years now, Salisbury, a vibrant South Australian community, comes together for an initiative by the Salisbury Lions Club that perfectly captures what it means to care for one another – Blanket Salisbury with Love.
With a growing number of people in the area struggling with homelessness and cost-of-living pressures, too many people face winter nights without warmth or shelter. The Salisbury community response was simple: wrap our neighbours in love, one blanket at a time.
When our team at Estia Health Salisbury learned about this initiative, there was no hesitation; we knew our residents would want to be part of something so meaningful.
The response was overwhelming. Donations poured in from every corner of our home. Team members brought blankets from their own cupboards, family members cleared out wardrobes, and even our South Australian regional team joined the effort. But it was our residents who captured the heart of this initiative. Their enthusiasm was so genuine that some tried to give the very blankets from their own beds.
Resident Audrey, using her lifetime of knitting experience, donated rugs made with love and care. Fellow resident Joy thoughtfully donated some of her warmest jumpers. And Cynthia, another cherished resident, contributed a pair of her favourite gloves.
The donated items, new and near-new blankets, warm clothing, and non-perishable food, made their way to Mawson Lakes community hall and local MP office, where Lions Club volunteers loaded them onto trucks. From there, these tangible expressions of care travelled through Salisbury, reaching people and families struggling to stay warm.
The generosity from our home extends far beyond winter blankets. Each year, our residents at Estia Health Salisbury choose which causes matter most to them. They have lovingly crafted dolls for children in hospital, supported local animal shelters, and now residents are already planning next year's contribution, because when you have experienced the joy of enriching and celebrating life together, you never want to stop.
