Tags to be hung on the tree for Stocking Stuffers for Seniors and Christmas to Remember. (CHAT News Photo/Bob Schneider)

By Chris Brown

Christmas care

Bringing Christmas gifts, and smiles, to seniors

Nov 17, 2020 | 1:37 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – London Drugs and AgeCare Valleyview have officially kicked off the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors and Christmas to Remember campaigns in a year that the donation drives are more important than ever.

On Tuesday, AgeCare staff decorated a tree in London Drugs and began hanging seniors’ wish list tags.

People are encouraged to select a tag from the tree, purchase the gift or gifts on the tag, and bring it back to London Drugs in a Christmas bag. AgeCare staff will pick them up and organize delivery in time for Christmas Day.

Greg Whelpley, London Drugs store manager, says it’s a great program for the community, particularly for seniors that can’t get out or are alone.

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“They’re the people that kind of get forgotten at Christmas time. And especially right now with COVID the way things are people are self-isolating, people are alone. It’s a great chance to make somebody’s day or make their Christmas,” he says.

AgeCare Valleyview administrator Kike Kola-Ojo agrees.

“It’s something that we really look forward to, bringing the smiles to the seniors’ faces, you know to know that they’re loved and we are thinking about them,” she says.

If you’d prefer not to purchase gifts you can register a senior and provide a gift suggestion and show support on social media with the hashtags #CareThisChristmas and #StockingStuffersForSeniors.

Gifts must be brought back to London Drugs by Dec. 16.

The donation drives aim to bring holiday cheer to more than 2,500 socially isolated and financially challenged Medicine Hat seniors this year.