Let’s help workers in quarantine hotels and apartments in Australia spread festive cheer at Christmas.

Please assist via the Facebook group Australians in Quarantine Facilities or by emailing the volunteers focussed on this hotelquarantinechristmas@gmail.com.

There’s a list of the hotels the volunteers have been able to identify so far here.

1 Check-in
Reception staff can assure children that even though they cannot leave their rooms, Santa has been granted special permission to do his Christmas jobs. Cost to you estimate: Nil.

2 Note from Santa
When a meal arrives, Children might appreciate seeing a little note to remind them Santa is thinking of them. It might say, “Christmas is a little off schedule this year but rest assured I know you have been good and I look forward to visiting you as soon as I can. S. Claus.” Cost to you estimate: Nil.

3 Meals with a festive touch
Please start talking to your catering service or team now about how Christmas Day meals could be cheered up a bit. Everyone has unique traditions for festive meals, but a sad or unappetising meal will be crushing, especially to people quarantining alone. If you can’t influence the food served, please think about what you could tuck in to the delivery bags to brighten somebody’s day on Christmas. Cost to you estimate: Nil, just plan ahead.

4 Gift inspections / re-wrapping
Consider telling your quarantiners and their family who call you asking about dropping in presents, that they should bring Christmas gifts in bags or boxes that are easily re-sealed because you have to inspect them. You might suggest pillow slips as gift wrap. Cost to you estimate: Nil,

5 Group chat for your quarantiners
We’ve noticed a lot of hotels have made their own WhatsApp or Facebook groups so people quarantining ‘together’ can communicate and feel like a community. Groups like these will also be a great way to spread Christmas cheer, help people feel less isolated, and allow people to support each other during quarantine, now, during the Christmas season, and into the future. Cost to you estimate: Nil.

6 Wrapping services
Please, if you have the budget for it, have some gift wrap and sticky tape on hand to wrap presents family members drop in for quarantiners. We know you have to inspect presents so if you could please wrap them, particularly if they are for children, that would be great. Alternatively, you could have a table in the lobby where family members could wrap them after you have inspected if you think that would meet your safety protocols. Cost to you estimate: $10 for a few rolls of paper and sticky tape.

7 Naughty elf on a shelf  
A member of your staff probably knows about this one. You take photos of a toy (usually an elf but it can be anything Christmassy) in different spots around your hotel getting up to funny mischief or just sitting about. You then share the photos with your quarantiners through the communication channel you have established. You could share the duty of moving and photographing your ‘elf on a shelf’ between the housekeeping department, catering, police, etc, and there are no limits to how many toys or photos. Normally people discover the toy but because it’s all by photos, you could take these any time (even now). Examples: https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/yet-more-hilarious-examples-cornwall-894268 Cost to you estimate: Nil.

8 Colouring sheets
Print and copy a few Christmas themed colouring sheets so you can give these to people of all ages, but especially those quarantining alone or with children. There are some free and Aussie themed ones here https://www.brisbanekids.com.au/christmas-colouring-sheets-themed-australian-animals/ 
Cost to you estimate: Paper and ink for printing and copying.

9 Recycled art
Ask people, especially children, to make trees or other Christmas art projects from the bags and food wrapping and photograph their work then email it to hotel staff (or share it in the hotel’s communication group). Example: a small christmas tree from a paper delivery bag, decorated with colourful yogurt tops. Cost to you estimate: Nil.

10 Drawing competition
Ask children to draw a Christmas picture and put it outside their door so staff passing by can write a note of appreciation or similar. Prizes welcome if you have any, but just a kind note like “love it!” or “fabulous!” will mean a lot to the artist. Cost to you estimate: Nil, maybe a sheet of blank paper per participant.

11 Activity sheets
Two weeks is a long time to be alone in a room and people might be very bored. A Christmas word search or other puzzle might be a welcome passtime for children and adults. There are some free ones here you might like to print for your quarantiners. https://masandpas.com/printable-christmas-activities/ 
Cost to you estimate: Paper and ink for printing and copying.

12 Decorations
Your hotel might have boxes of Christmas bunting, lights and decorations that you won't be able to use this season due to operating as a quarantine facility. Please consider lending some of these to guests. Cost to you estimate: Nil, usual wear and tear.

13 Santa out the window
In Australia, Santa often just wears board shorts and a red hat with sunnies. It would make people smile if one of your staffers went for a stroll carrying a sheet bundle sack and waved to quarantiners. You could announce it on your PA system so nobody misses Santa’s visit. Cost to you estimate: Nil, just need a staffer brave enough to be silly.

14 Carolling
It would be lovely if you sang carols with your guests from outside but not all windows open and not all rooms face the same way. Maybe songbird staff members could lead a carol on the PA system, and beforehand you could distribute the lyrics with a meal delivery. There are some printable Christmas carol lyrics here: http://www.printasong.com  Cost to you estimate: Paper and ink for printing and copying.

15 Ho Ho Ho
Children would be happy and excited to hear a bellylaugh ‘ho ho ho’ over the PA system on the afternoon and evening of December 24th and the morning of the 25th. Cost to you estimate: Nil.

16 Something for Santa
With some advanced planning, you ask your catering company to provide extra carrots, biscuits and milk on December 24th, so people can leave something out for Santa on Christmas Eve. If the caterers can’t do this, perhaps, if you have the budget, you could buy a carrot for each room where children are staying?Cost to you estimate: $10 for carrots if caterers can’t manage this.

17 Jingle bells and ho ho ho
Staff could bring some bells to work to softly jingle outside doors on Christmas eve so children can be happy about Santa not missing them. If you have budget to do so, you could give each guest a bell to ring on Christmas eve to join a quarantine wide jingle at a time you assign. You can remind everyone it’s time to jingle via your PA system.
Cost to you estimate: $20 at a craft shop for bells and string.

18 Stockings
If you have a budget for such things, it would be fabulous if you could leave a Christmas stocking for each child to find on Christmas morning. These could have a few sweets, craft items, small toys, a piece of fruit inside. Even some of the day’s catering could be delivered this way. Cost to you estimate: $3 per child staying with you.

19 Dress up
Most of us smile when we see somebody wearing a silly Santa hat. If you wore them while working, or offered them to your guests if you have the budget to do so, it would lift some people's spirits. Cost to you estimate: Nil, use hotel’s existing Christmas props.

20 Candy canes
If you have the budget to buy these, pop a small candy cane in the bag before you deliver any of the three meals on Christmas day. Cost to you estimate: $10 for bulk bags of tiny candy canes.

21 Advent calendars
These are perfect for people passing time, as one door is opened per day. They might be very cheap and just have a picture each day or if you have the budget for it, they are available with chocolates or other treats. Cost to you estimate: $1 per room for basic advent calendars, $3 or more for fancier versions.