The annual Be a Santa to a Senior program helped brighten Christmas for more than 100 seniors.
The annual initiative, run by the Seniors Services Society, urges the public to buy a gift for a vulnerable senior in the community.
The society puts Christmas trees up in various businesses around the city, with ornaments for people to pull from the tree, that list a senior’s gift preferences. The person can then buy a present and leave it with the business, and society volunteers handle delivery and wrapping.
On Dec. 19, the society had 161 deliveries, somewhat short of the 200 gifts they were aiming for, but independent living coordinator Kelly Friesen said everyone was covered.
“We did get a gift for everyone on our list. We just hoped to push it a little further,” she said.
Most of the seniors receiving gifts are from New Westminster, and all are connected to the society, a non-profit that offers numerous programs to help vulnerable seniors.
Friesen wanted to thank all that helped this year’s campaign: the volunteers, the participating merchants and the community at large.
For more info on the society, go to seniorsservicessociety.ca.
