New West shoppers can help lift the spirits of local seniors this holiday season through London Drugs annual Stocking Stuffers for Seniors initiative.
Stockings for Seniors is underway at all 80 London Drugs stores in Western Canada. London Drugs said the program has helped more than 75,000 seniors since it began in 2015.
“Customers can make a meaningful impact by visiting a nearby London Drugs location and selecting a tag from the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors Christmas tree, each bearing a senior’s gift wish,” said a news release from London Drugs. “Customers are encouraged to purchase the item listed on the tag (note: it does not need to be purchased from a London Drugs store) and return it to the same location, by the date provided, and gifts will be delivered to seniors ahead of the holiday.”
Stockings for Seniors runs until Friday, Dec. 8.The tree at the New West London Drugs is still filled with cards bearing the names of local seniors whose stockings need to be filled.
“The holiday season is a time for giving, and it’s essential that we extend our generosity to those who need it most,” said Clint Mahlman, president and chief opereating officer of London Drugs. “Our Stocking Stuffers for Seniors’ initiative aims to provide essential support and bring joy to the lives of seniors who may be experiencing financial hardship. It is about letting them know that they are not forgotten over the holidays, and that their community truly cares about their well-being.”
According to London Drugs, many older Canadians are grappling with the challenges of maintaining their budgets amidst soaring prices. It stated 84 per cent of low-income seniors reported running out of money to buy food regularly.
“For many local seniors in long-term care, they’ve celebrated Christmas every year of their lives, but no longer have family to celebrate with,” says Tom Arnold, executive director of Eldercare Foundation. “It’s amazing to see their wonder and surprise on Christmas morning when a gift arrives from the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors’ program, and how decades of happy holiday memories come flooding back to them.”
Arnold said long-term care costs 80 per cent of a senior’s after-tax income.
“As prices of basic goods have risen, a growing number of seniors in care no longer have enough pension money left over each month to afford clothes, hearing aid batteries, denture cream, or other personal care needs,” he said in a news release. “So, stocking stuffers can really boost quality of life for seniors all year long.”
In New West, London Drugs is located in Westminster Centre, 555 Sixth St.
