Gift drive fights holiday loneliness among Calgary seniors
Stocking Stuffers for seniors at London Drugs delivers holiday cheer to isolated people
A campaign got underway Monday to spread some holiday cheer to seniors in Calgary who might not otherwise receive gifts at Christmas-time.
Members of Stocking Stuffers for Seniors and the Seniors Secret Service team up with care organizations to identify Calgarians who don't have family or friends and then try to brighten the holiday season with small gifts to show them they haven't been forgotten.
"Many seniors who have lost a spouse or are without family spend the season alone, and it can be an especially difficult time for them," Andrea Brumwell, executive director of Seniors Secret Service, said in a release.
"The simple gesture of giving a gift shows our seniors that people care about them and improves their spirits which can have lasting mental and physical health benefits."
Calgarians can support the gift drive by visiting any London Drugs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 16 and selecting a senior's wish-list tag from the Christmas tree.
Buy the items on the list and bring the unwrapped gifts back to the customer service desk at the same location by Dec. 16.
Here are some of the most popular gift ideas:
- Toiletry gift sets.
- Hand creams.
- Books or magazines.
- Blankets and throws.
- Bathrobes, pyjama sets and nightgowns.
- Candy or chocolate.
- Diabetic candy or chocolate.
- Large print books, board games or puzzles.
- Sweaters and cardigans.
- Slippers or warm socks.
- Warm clothes like gloves and scarves.
- Travel mugs.
- Gift cards for groceries and toiletries.
Stocking Stuffers for Seniors started in British Columbia's Okanagan and expanded to Edmonton in 2015.
The campaign now includes all 82 London Drugs locations in 35 cities across Western Canada. Since the campaign started, approximately 24,000 packages have been delivered.