The Bay Seniors Association is inviting local children and teens to assemble and personalize Christmas cards for local seniors. The cards will be included with the Christmas gift bags the association is putting together for around 75 local seniors.
Volunteer-created card kits, with a card, envelope and several decorative components, can be picked up from the Community Enterprise Centre (CEC) at 5229 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, currently offering front-door pickup and drop-off Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to noon. Kids are encouraged to assemble and personalize the cards as they wish, adding a holiday greeting. Completed cards should be dropped off at the CEC by December 15.
Rebecca Weickert, president of Bay Seniors, says this is the second time the association has offered this program. “We did it near the start of Covid, and it was a lovely way for families to reach out to seniors. We’ve had many comments from seniors who received one, saying how much it meant to them to get a cheerful card with a caring message from a local child or teen. And the kids had fun opening the kits and using them as a starting point for their own creativity.”
The Christmas in the Bay organizers are also promoting the program, and Weickert says Bay Seniors is delighted to have that help to ensure more families participate. “We will definitely send out all the cards we receive. This is an especially important Christmas for us all to stay in touch and let our neighbours know we’re thinking of them,” she adds.
Michelle MacLean, the Bay Seniors board member who is coordinating the Christmas gift bags, says the association is grateful to the community members who have been donating items to fill the 75 Bay Seniors volunteer-made fabric tote bags being used for the gifts. “We’ve had a wonderful response, with people dropping off puzzle books, socks, pens, eyeglass cleaner, facial tissues, and lots of other goodies. But, says MacLean, “We have room for more,” especially what she calls “the basics,” like boxes (not purse packs) of facial tissue, small bottles of hand sanitizer and puzzle books and pencils.
MacLean says gift bag items can be dropped off at the CEC until December 7.