EDMONTON – Thanks to the generosity of Edmontonians, 500 seniors in need received presents from Santa Claus Tuesday.
Operation Friendship Seniors Society and the Oliver Square London Drugs teamed up to try and fulfil the wish lists of seniors living in care homes.
“Seniors sometimes get lost in the shuffle when it comes to the holiday season,” explained Jimmy Morrison, with Operation Friendship.
For the last two weeks, a tree was set up at London Drugs with the names of various seniors and a couple of items they’d like to get for Christmas. Customers were encouraged to pick a name and donate the gifts.
“These are not your big expensive gifts. They’re things like socks, toiletries,” Morrison said. “One gentleman asked for cans of soup. Things that we often take for granted.”
Santas for Seniors initially wanted to gather enough donations for 40 seniors, but after a customer shared the idea on Facebook, the plans quickly expanded.
“It just sort of exploded into social media craze,” Morrison said.
The post was shared over 1,500 times and gifts began pouring in.
“A lot of them have personal things in there. Like cards from people, notes from kids, little personal touches – homemade goodies in some of them,” Morrison explained.
The gifts were delivered by Santa and his elves on Tuesday afternoon, to each and every one of the 350 seniors living at Sparling Lodge, Hutton Place, McCauley Lodge, Pioneer Place, Alliance Manor and the Operation Friendship Rooming House.
Extra presents are being held at the society’s drop-in facility and will be given to seniors as they come in.
The gifts were more than Debrah Waddell said she ever expected, especially at a lonely time of year.
“I don’t really have that much family and I’m not going anywhere for Christmas, so this is my Christmas,” she said.
Another senior, John Givens, was thrilled to open a travel mug.
“Alright! I’ve wanted one of these for a very long time,” he exclaimed.
Givens said the mug will allow him to get back to his room without spilling coffee everywhere.
“It’s nice to get a boost, you know? Sometimes I get a little grumpy this time of year, I don’t like the cold,” Givens said. “I have never met nicer people than the people of Edmonton.”
Morrison echoed that sentiment: “When you ask Edmontonians to step up, they always do. I hope they know how important this is, and what a difference they’re making this holiday season.”
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