It’s that time of year again, and the Seniors Advocacy Service (SAS) is preparing to launch its second annual Secret Santa for Seniors.
The holidays can be a difficult time of year for seniors, particularly for those without family in the area or with mobility issues.
To make the holidays just a little bit easier on them, the SAS launched the Secret Santa for Seniors last year. Susan MacNeill, who is co-ordinating the program for SAS, says last year 40 seniors received Secret Santa gifts, with more members of the public wanting to help seniors than seniors available.
MacNeill says they noticed a similar program being run in Prince George and identified a need for it in Quesnel.
READ MORE: SAS Secret Santa remembers seniors at Christmas
Organizations and individuals working with seniors in the area provide anonymous information cards to SAS, identifying a senior with a number — to maintain their anonymity — and including their clothing size and what kind of gift they’re in need of.
SAS says the 10 most common gifts include blankets, slippers and socks, pajamas, night gowns and robes, candy and chocolate, sweatpants, sweaters and underwear, gift cards for groceries and toiletries, books, board games and puzzles.
Anyone who wants to participate in Secret Santa for Seniors can drop by the office of the Quesnel Cariboo Observer anytime after Nov. 21 to pick a tag off of the Seniors Christmas Tree in the foyer. Each tag will contain an individual wishlist for the corresponding senior. From there, gift givers can purchase or bring new, wrapped items, with the gift tag attached, back to the Observer.
Tags will be available for pick up on an ongoing basis from Nov. 21 to Dec. 5. The gifts will be delivered to the seniors on Dec. 14-15, 2018.
heather.norman@quesnelobserver.com
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