Brenda Kobley selects a tag from the Christmas to Remember program giving tree located at the Veiner Centre, alongside the Happy Holiday Card Campaign drop-off box. A second giving tree is located at London Drugs in Medicine Hat. Donations of gifts and cards are being accepted from now until Dec. 16.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
A group of Medicine Hat establishments is coming together to spread Holiday cheer to seniors through concerted donation drives.
AgeCare Valleyview, London Drugs and Veiner Centre are joining forces to provide local seniors who are low-income and/or live alone with gifts, stocking stuffers and greeting cards this Holiday Season, through respective donation drives: A Christmas to Remember, Stocking Stuffers for Seniors and Happy Holiday Card Campaign.
“AgeCare Valleyview and London Drugs have partnered (for past donation drives) and then the Veiner Centre actually jumped on board this year,” AgeCare retirement living consultant Misty Ross said; explaining a shared goal of promoting seniors’ well-being and connection to community as the basis of the partnership.
“When seniors are lonely or isolated, it can significantly compromise their mental or physical health,” AgeCare executive director Torill Hutchinson said. “(But) when they receive a gift at Christmas, it reminds them that someone cares about them – even if that person is someone they have never met.”
Larry Mathieson, president and CEO of Veiner Centre operator Unison, agrees, stating, “We know that socially isolated seniors are at higher risk for a variety of health problems, such as heart disease, depression or cognitive decline. (But) small acts of community like these local handmade cards can make the Holidays feel less lonely and help our local seniors feel cared for and loved.”
The establishments are inviting community members to help spread such feelings to seniors by donating gifts, stocking stuffers or greeting cards.
Gifts and stocking stuffers are being collected in a joint-drive, in which community members are asked to visit one of the partnership’s giving trees (located at London Drugs and the Veiner Centre), select a tag that includes the name of a local senior and their gift request from the tree, purchase the requested gift item and drop it off wrapped at London Drugs on or before to Dec. 16. Additional items like stocking stuffers can be included with the wrapped gift.
Greeting cards however, are being collected separately, as cards are not being addressed to specific seniors. Instead, community members are asked to make or purchase Holiday cards with inclusive greetings, alongside a sincere handwritten message, then drop them off at the Veiner Centre by Dec. 16.
The establishments will then combine the donated items and greeting cards and distribute them to seniors in the community.
Additional information – including how to register as a recipient – visit carethischristmas.ca.
