Record-breaking generosity
The community has responded tremendously to London Drugs’ Annual Stocking Stuffer for a Senior program by donating a record number of gifts to bring holiday cheer to local seniors.
The annual program sees our local London Drugs put up a tree with tags containing a wish list from a local senior. People can bring new, non-gift wrapped items along with the tag to the London Drugs customer service.
This year there were 160 seniors and the Westbank London Drugs received a recordbreaking 800 gifts.
While the Stocking Stuffer for a Senior program generates a huge response every year, this far exceeded our expectations, said Cory Muir, store manager at the Westbank London Drugs.
Gifts included hand-knitted toques, crossword puzzles, blankets, body wash and puzzles.
In other years, London Drugs has worked with Home Instead to deliver the gifts. This year, the Westbank London Drugs worked with the Westside Health Network Society, which helps seniors access health and social services, as well as the Salvation Army, which will distribute the rest of the gifts in the community. Muir said being able to work with an organization like the Salvation Army to distribute the extra gifts was a huge bonus and they wanted to make sure as many sheltered seniors as possible received a gift.
This year has been challenging for seniors who are suffering from loneliness and isolation because of COVID-19.
“There are a lot of seniors out there by themselves, and even if they aren’t by themselves and do have family, they’re away from them now because of COVID,” said Karen Northcott, Westside Health Network’s coordinator of volunteers. “We love to come together and be able to give them something and put a smile on their faces.”
The gifts were distributed after being quarantined for a few days.