Little Box of Love’s seasonal surprises in Westbury

DISCOVERING a yummy Easter treat on the doorstep was a nice surprise for a Westbury resident, but they had no idea how it got there until others said the same had happened to them.. 

A local resident posted on social media saying, “Someone left an Easter egg on our doorstep earlier. What a pleasant surprise, however I am intrigued as to who left it. It had a label with hashtag on it #LBOLROAK”

Another group member responded, “We had one too. Such a great idea” and then a link to the “Little Box of Love” website was posted.

White Horse News spoke to Little box of Love founder, Sue Quinney, who started the service six years ago. 

Sue who is based in Cornwall but has recently recruited regional ambassadors, including one for Wiltshire, said, “We started off with receiving nominations for anyone who needed a bit of a lift – if they’d been ill or going through difficult times.  

“About a year ago we started to do care packages for the homeless and women’s refuges and then do random acts of kindness. We just leave something for someone to find or put them on a doorstep. 

“We then introduced regional ambassadors – our Wiltshire ambassador [Emma Jane Henbrey, pictured] has been with us about six months.”

Sue was inspired to begin making and sending out little gift boxes after, having been ill for 30 years she woke up one morning feeling pain-free.

“I thought ‘this is what life should be like’. I was so elated. I knew some friends who had been going through difficult times and I wanted to reach out and say hang in there and things will get better. 

“I sent out little boxes saying, ‘thinking of you, you will get through it.’ Then I got inundated – it was me, my mum and my sister doing them at first and we were sending out 100 a week. We thought, ‘right, we have to sort this out!’ It’s been quite a journey.”

The service is now applying for status as a charitable incorporation. It receives donations for the boxes through its website and Facebook pages and also buys items in, through Amazon. It delivers all over the world.

“During the pandemic we’ve delivered to a lot of care homes and doctors surgeries,” Sue said.

“I think people have felt they don’t know what to say or do, and sometimes there’s nothing you can say or do, but with the Little Boxes of Love people feel they’re helping and making a difference to someone.”

“We enjoy doing it, it’s very rewarding.” 

The website says, “Little Box of Love has one mission at its core, to spread the love one box at a time. Born out of the understanding that little gestures made with compassion can go a long way, we aim to spread joy to those going through difficult times.

“We create little boxes of love, filled with unique and charming gifts to put a smile on the face of someone special to you. Our boxes are free – we simply ask you to pay the shipping costs – because we know that spreading joy is, ultimately, priceless.

”It’s simple. Just nominate somebody you know could do with a little joy through our nomination form, pay for shipping and we’ll create a free box of gifts and send it to them. A Little Box of Love from you, through us, to them.”

For more information go to alittleboxoflove.co.uk