CHENEY – The Santa to Senior donation and Letters for Senior Citizen drives are running through Dec. 11 for indigent residents at Cheney Care Center.
Led by the Cheney Centennial Lions Club, the Santa to Senior drive’s most commonly requested are “books, compact discs, stuffed animals, movies, slipper socks, clothing, decorative items, sugar free desserts, and handmade items are encouraged.”
Christmas requests are found on tags on a “Giving Tree” at The Marketplace Restaurant and Amish Store, 1011 First St.
Owner Lori Musgrave said residents wanting to help out can take a tag from the tree and purchase the items listed on the tag, and return them by Dec. 15.
Gifts and holiday cards will be delivered to Care Center residents by Santa and Mrs. Claus on Christmas morning, Saturday, Dec. 25.
“It is one of the most rewarding volunteer activities I’ve ever done in my life,” Musgrave said. “One of the residents in the dementia ward, asked for a baby doll that she can hold and she can rock, and a baby blanket and a baby bottle so she can feed her baby.”
Visible impact
One person who has seen the impact this drive has on seniors is Cheney Care Center Activities Director Kris Bahr.
“During this difficult time, the gifts from the community mean even more to our residents,” she said. “It is amazing to see the light in the eyes of our resident when they receive their gifts.”
Lions spokeswoman Jessica Boyer said the card drive was inspired by her grandfather’s service work and previous work in the Holiday Hoopla Kidzone.
“My grandpa used to go into the nursing homes and he would bring his guitar and sing songs, he would go to each individual room,” she said.
She would go with him on these outings and she recalls learning that a lot of the seniors did not get any visitors, Bahr said.
“I work closely with Lori, and I interview the residents directly and ask them what they would like,” she said. “If a resident can’t speak for themselves, then we interview staff and family if they have some.”
Bahr said all residents receive gifts.
“No resident is left out, this is extremely important since some of them have no family, or they are far away and unable to spend the holiday with their loved ones,” she said. “The day the gifts are given is truly one of the magical and happiest days at our facility.”
The staff and residents all get together and laugh, sing and open gifts.
“A lot of the seniors that I would meet in the care center were World War II veterans and they should not be forgotten about,” she said.
Christmas cards
Bahr bought a bunch of holiday cards for children to decorate and write messages for the residents.
She said children were happy to participate and the first year, they received nearly 150 cards.
Last year, both Musgrave and Boyer set a goal to get 500 cards – they exceeded their goal.
“We had people sending cards all the way over from Seattle that heard about it from relatives and people here,” Boyer said.
Boyer said the cards will be collected at several local businesses including Vision Haus, Banner Bank, Marketplace and The Mason Jar.
Former Lions Club Secretary Jake Rehm is encouraging everyone to participate.
“Civic involvement like Letters for Senior Citizens is fun and rewarding,” he said.
Email reporter Sarah Stephens at [email protected].
Reader Comments(0)