This is the 4th year we’ve participated in this program and every year it touches us to be part of this.
Like everything else, we’ve had to do things a little differently this year. Instead of each of us having a specific senior to shop for, the staff at the facility gathered the wishes of the residents and put them into an Amazon wish list for us to purchase from. Although it didn’t have the personal touch that shopping for and wrapping a gift does, we used the information we were given so we could have a sense for exactly who we were helping.
“Our residents need it now more than ever. COVID-19 has affected our whole community in ways that I cannot explain and the joy that this program brings to our residents is needed. Not only for them, but also for the staff.” – Administrator of the Facility
- Most residents are either low income or homeless
- They have been isolated from friends and family since March, leading to mental health and physical health breakdowns
- Activities and programs are mostly banned because of Covid-19
- No group meals are allowed; all meals are alone in their rooms
In the past, we were able to deliver the gifts ourselves and share the joy of seeing their faces light up. For a lot of the residents, these are the only gifts they receive, and these people possess very little already. We get requests from residents that many times have no family at all. The requests are simple -– a blanket, some candy, sweatshirts, something cozy. It makes us realize how much we have and how lonely some people can be during this time.
