Gifts to brighten seniors' holidays
Organization that provides presents to lonely elderly has moved online
An Edmonton organization is making sure seniors are not forgotten this Christmas, at a time when they are more alone than ever.
Home Instead Edmonton's Be a Santa to a Senior program, which provides gifts for seniors who are alone during the holiday season, is still out to offer joy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We know the impact we made in other years getting out to the senior community that really couldn't afford care, and don't have the family around them, or that social interaction,” said Brent Boyd, owner of Home Instead Edmonton.
“In previous years, we would do a gift-wrapping party and then we would do the deliveries and we would watch them open their gifts and you would see people crying tears. The stories were remarkable.”
While there won't be gift-wrapping parties and the opportunity to watch seniors unwrap their gifts this year, Home Instead is putting together donations using an online format to comply with COVID-19 public health measures.
Thanks to a partnership with Amazon Business, individuals can go to Beasantatoasenior.ca and put in their postal codes, Boyd said.
“You'll receive on Amazon a list of people and a list of what they would need and you can go right there and purchase the gifts,” Boyd said. “They will send them either directly to the senior or to our office, and we will wrap them and make sure they get delivered to the senior.”
A list of standard items like throw blankets, slippers, stuffed animals and toiletries is also available in an effort to support local businesses, Boyd said.
Even more seniors will be in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic this holiday season, Boyd said. In previous years, gifts have been delivered to between 200 and 300 seniors, but this year there are more than 500 on Home Instead's list.
“There's so many people that are not having personal contact, be it a letter or a phone call or things of that nature, so to be able to take and be able to get something from someone that cares about them, I believe it's a huge impact this year,” Boyd said.
“It's hard to describe, I know we're keeping up with the list of people that need help and it's larger than we've ever seen. And we want to make sure that we can reach those needs and goals.”
Gifts can be dropped off at Home Instead's office at Unit #8, 1004 Parsons Rd. SW.
If an individual is uncomfortable coming inside the building, Boyd said they can phone the office and someone will come outside to pick up the gift.
Boyd said gifts will be accepted up to Dec. 15. Then they will be wrapped and delivered to seniors across the city.