The Prince George London Drugs is doing its popular Stocking Stuffers for Seniors holiday donation drive again this year, and is hoping to make an impact on seniors' lives given the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic The program provided gifts to more than 20,000 seniors across Western Canada in 2019.
Supporters can visit their local London Drugs between now and December 16, 2020 to choose a tag from the tree that contains the wish list, or everyday essentials, of a local senior.
The gifts are then safely delivered to the seniors before Christmas.
Each London Drugs location is working with their program partners and elder care experts to ensure the program meets their specific safety requirements for the safe collection and transfer of gifts that will be delivered to the seniors by approved personnel and volunteers.
“2020 has been a challenging and difficult year for many of us, but it’s especially affected our elderly Canadian population,” said Clint Mahlman, President and Chief Operating Officer, London Drugs, in a news release.
“We all know the effects of isolation and loneliness on our seniors have been significant during the pandemic, and the goal of the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors program is to show our seniors we care, we are thinking of them, and we are here for them—even if we can’t be there for them in person this year.”
Each London Drugs will have information posted next to the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors tree with information on how the participating care homes will be managing the gifts to keep their seniors safe. In many instances, donated gifts will be isolated for 72 hours prior to internal distribution to the seniors.
“This year, it’s more important than ever to show seniors that they are not alone,” said Jimmy Morrison, Community Relations Supervisor, Operation Friendship Seniors Society in the release.
“Just the act of receiving a gift helps to significantly improve the spirits of a senior and can have lasting mental and physical health benefits.”
Morrison says that they are relying heavily on Canadians to support their seniors with many annual programs being cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic.
“Our number one priority is protecting our seniors, as they are in the higher-risk age group, however because many already isolated seniors are being asked to stay home, or may not have loved ones able to visit them for months, they need additional support getting essentials such as food, warmth items or toiletries,” says Morrison.
“The Stocking Stuffers for Seniors program is significant to us, and all the participating senior organizations, because it helps us safely deliver these generous gifts while boosting an individual’s mental health by letting them know someone cares about them—even if it’s from a stranger.”
Morrison says when seniors are lonely or isolated, it can significantly compromise their mental or physical health. When they receive a gift at Christmas, it reminds them that someone out there cares about them.
The Stocking Stuffers for Seniors donation drive concept originated in British Columbia’s Okanagan, and expanded to Edmonton in 2015 with a goal to help 40 low-income seniors by providing them with simple gifts such as food, hygiene products or warmth items.
The campaign has grown quickly to now include all 81 London Drugs locations in 35 cities across Western Canada.
Since the campaign started, approximately 44,000 packages have been delivered to seniors.
