Repurposed shopping trolley delivering treats and joy to BaptistCare Morrison Gardens residents

Every Tuesday afternoon, Heather Brown (87) and Olga Beale (82), push a shopping trolley stocked to the brim with treasures and treats down the halls of BaptistCare Morrison Gardens Residential Care in Midland.

Chocolate, embroidery sets, home-made truffles and aftershave – whatever the residents want, the Molly Trolley delivers.

The cart was joyfully named the Molly Trolley by one of Morrison Gardens’ longest serving volunteers, Julie Hall.

Julie, who experienced a brain aneurism at 23-years-old and is unable to work, has been generously donating her time and energy to BaptistCare for five years, and is now a much-loved member of the Morrison Gardens team.

“Some residents don’t have family in Perth to drop off extra supplies, so it’s very special to see their faces light up when we ring the bell on the Molly Trolley and start making our rounds,” she said.

“If we don’t have something that a resident wants, we make sure we stock it in time for next week!”

Created with left over funds from their hugely successful Easter raffle, Morrison Gardens Lifestyle Coordinator Maree O’Connell, happily obliged when residents requested the money go towards an ‘at home’ shopping experience.

Maree says, the Molly Trolley’s success is also thanks to Heather and Olga who are heavily involved in the running of the trolley, and often donate their change when purchasing items.

“Heather’s daughter and granddaughter even provided bags of homemade truffles for us to sell on the trolley,” she said.

“They proved very popular, and unsurprisingly, chocolates and sweets have been the most sought out items on offer,” Maree said.

Heather who has been a resident at Morrison Gardens since 2023 says the trolley is an uplifting addition and is loved by many residents.

“Everyone enjoys the Molly Trolley, and everyone wants to be a part of it, it’s a great asset,” she said. 

Additional funds raised from the trolley will go towards the purchasing of a Tovertafel - an interactive ‘magic games table’ - for the Memory Support Unit at Morrison Gardens.