Special programs exist for our seniors
Think about this one side of a phone conversation.
“Hello sweetheart. How are you doing? Good to hear things are going well. Me, well I am okay. I think about you and love you. Yes, I understand that you can not come home. Perhaps next year.”
Well things are not okay. Our seniors have lived through so much. The depression, WW2 rationing and struggles thereafter. They trust, they make concessions. The future our children are paramount, but we need to respect and support the folks that made our lives a reality – Seniors!
I am getting close to that official designation at 64. If our children tell us they are happily going to another holiday event, many miles away, we as parents are joyful. Joyful, but perhaps so very alone.
In our community many are very alone. The holiday season is difficult for many reasons, but our most significant challenges are isolation, loss, and loneliness.
Well, we have a very special Digby program. Megan Stark started this in response to what she saw as a need. Last year, with the help of Yvonne Mullen, the program began. This year 49 seniors have been 'adopted.' It is not the gifts as much as it is the joy of the season. Meghan is a stayat-home mom who is by profession and optometrist. She started thinking about this when she was a member of the Maple Grove School Memorial club.
She has 'adopted' seniors in her community for years, but saw a need for a greater involvement. She hooked up with Dawn Thomas (Digby and Area RCMP Senior Safety) and the referrals are from there as well. This is only the 2nd year, but she hopes that the 'adoptions' will be an all-year thing to combat loneliness and loss.
She is working to start a friendly visiting program in the New Year where companionship would be part of the program. They are not there yet, but it is in the works.
The Order of the Eastern Star has helped with some funds and the town gives them the Heritage
Centre for collections etc., but she and Yvonne are really doing this on their own. They have gathered special toiletries (soap, bubble bath), homemade treats like jams and pickles, grocery certificates, socks, mitts, hats – all kinds of stuff. They are raffling a basket for a fundraiser that has stuff from almost every merchant in the town. The town is the focus, but she has some adoptees from the municipality.
It is never too late to send a donation. Contact them at Digbyseniorssanta@gmail.com.
Always innovative and supportive, DawnThomas, the
Digby Area RCMP Senior Safety Coordinator, has been integral to encouraging our seniors to socialize – such as the many informative and educational opportunities that are part of the Senior Safety Program and the widely-enjoyed monthly Senior Days at Digby Area Recreation. Events like this have been so vital to the safety, security, health and wellness of our mature, experienced citizens. Participants in Dawn’s programs have made connections and it is my understanding that plans are in place for some of these folks to attend local activities together. like the Journey to Bethlehem, tree lightings, and Christmas Daddies. The next Senior’s Day at DARC is Dec. 19.
I hear there were oodles of volunteers, some very young on Saturday, putting the baskets together. Well Done ‘Digby Santa’s Elves!!’