Nothing stops Santa. Not even COVID-19.
The Seniors Services Society of B.C. is once again organizing its annual Santa for Seniors program. It provides holiday cheer and gift-giving to those seniors who are least likely to receive a gift during the holiday season.
With social distancing and pandemic restrictions affecting shopping opportunities, Santa for Seniors organizers had to reimagine how to help seniors in need and came up with the idea of Christmas bundles.
“One of our biggest challenges was that shoppers won’t be going to stores as much; they’ll be doing more of their shopping online,” Alison Silgardo, CEO of the Seniors Services Society, said in a press release. “Having pre-set bundles available for purchase by our donors is a great way for the community to continue supporting Santa for Seniors, while ensuring our seniors are provided for this holiday, be it a meal, groceries, or even ‘housing starter kits’ for when we are able to help them find new housing.”
Santa for Seniors supporters can contribute to the program by donating online for a pre-set bundle at ww.seniorsservicessociety.ca/santaforsenior, or by visiting the Sapperton Save-On Foods in the Brewery District in or the uptown London Drugs in Westminster Centre until Dec. 7.
At London Drugs, community members can choose the name of a recipient from a Santa for Seniors Christmas tree, purchase a gift card and leave it at customer service. The Sapperton Save-on Foods has flyers at the customer service desk for purchasing gift cards, which are then provided to the Seniors Services Society.
The Santa for Seniors program, launched by the Seniors Services Society in 2006, provides gifts to as many as 150 isolated seniors each year.
For more information about Seniors Services Society, visit www.seniorsservicessociety.ca or, email [email protected] or call 604-520-6621.
