A campaign encouraging people to send cards and gifts to Chatham-Kent seniors who may spend Christmas alone and isolated is back for a fifth year.
A campaign encouraging people to send cards and gifts to Chatham-Kent seniors who may spend Christmas alone and isolated is back for a fifth year.
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The Santa for Seniors project was inspired by many other food and gift drives that took place in Chatham-Kent because of the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers said in a release.
“These past few years have been particularly challenging for so many people in our community, and there have been lots of great ways to help. . . ,” said co-organizer Dava Robichaud. “Isolation is another challenge, especially for seniors, and we hope to brighten their day with some gifts and cards from every corner of Chatham-Kent.”
Robichaud encouraging people and families to write holiday cards and pack gifts once again for seniors to be delivered the week before Christmas.
“Let’s come together again as a community to send out as many cards and gifts to our senior population as we can,” Robichaud said. “If you’d like to contribute, spend some time this weekend with your family and have some fun writing cards and putting together gift boxes.”
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In 2020, the community contributed more than 5,800 greeting cards and 800 gifts for local seniors, co-organizer Emmalee Longbottom said.
“The following three years, we collected over 4,225 gifts, and over 13,560 greeting cards,” Longbottom said.
“With 2,000 seniors living in retirement and nursing homes, and hundreds more living on their own, we’d like each senior to get a greeting card and gift again this year,” she added.
Suggested gift box items include toiletries, cookies, tea, puzzles, hats, gloves, stationery, and other small gifts.
Those needing an empty box can pick one up at the TekSavvy Security Kiosk at 800 Richmond St., in Chatham, or the Community Living administration offices at 1100 Dufferin Ave. in Wallaceburg.
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Boxes and cards can be returned to TekSavvy and/or Wallaceburg Community Living and will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 13. Gifts and cards will be delivered Dec. 17 to 20.
“Boxes can be returned unwrapped, and our team of volunteer elves will take care of the rest,” Longbottom says.
Organizers and volunteers will sanitize all gifts before boxes are wrapped. Boxes and cards will be safely distributed to all retirement and nursing homes, and cards will be included in all Chatham-Kent Meals on Wheels deliveries.
Santa may even help with some deliveries, organizers said.
Several fundraisers are set to support the initiative, including:
- Mr. & Mrs. Claus Tree are accepting donations at the Merry Magic CK Holiday Event at the Everest Convention Center in Chatham through Nov. 24
- Trivia night at Red Barn Brewing Co. in Blenheim, Nov. 26 from 6-9 pm
- Chatham Boston Pizza fundraiser, Nov. 28, from 11 am-11 pm
For more information, or to support Santa for Seniors, email [email protected]. For updates, follow facebook.com/santaforseniorsck.
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