A small group of Recreation Therapy students are working to bring holiday cheer to local seniors living in homes impacted by COVID-19, and are hoping the NC community can help.
The students — including Jessica DeFreitas, Brittany Richards, and Jelena Vicentic, who are all in their first year of the program — are collecting items which they will package into gift bags and deliver to seniors at Millennium Trail Manor in Niagara Falls, and Gilmore Lodge in Fort Erie in time for Christmas.
“We wanted to give back to long-term care homes that have been affected by COVID-19. With COVID restrictions in play, family visits are severely restricted, leaving residents feeling alone during the holidays,” said the students. “All donations, large or small, will help make this a brighter holiday season for residents of these two local long term care homes.”
Professor Christine Wilkinson noted that the initiative is entirely voluntary. “One of the students approached me with her idea and asked me for some help in moving forward,” she said. “The two other students jumped on board to help and the homes are thrilled that the students are doing this.”
DeFreitas, who led the initiative, noted that she has been working in a retirement home in Fort Erie where she lives, and has seen firsthand how isolated many seniors have been during COVID-19 – even without their residences being directly impacted by an outbreak.
“Many residents don’t have families who come to visit. Now, with COVID, there are seniors who have families in the U.S. who can’t visit at all. With the holidays approaching I thought,’ what can I do to help,'” said DeFreitas who is also a graduate of the College’s Culinary Management program.
Their goal is to put together 195 gift bags – enough to provide each senior in these two local residences with a gift bag for Christmas.
They are hoping the NC community will donate items needed (listed below) or money to purchase items for the gift bags.
Suggested items to donate:
- Large print world searches;
- Colouring books and pencil crayons;
- Personal care items (unscented hand/body lotions, deodorant);
- Hand soap pumps (not bars of soap);
- Boxes of Kleenex;
- Window sun catchers;
- Door decorations (Christmas or other); and
- Holiday CDs or DVD, new or gently used (for the residences).
The deadline for donations is December 15 – allowing enough time for students to purchase the items, assemble the gift bags and deliver them. The bags will also be quarantined for a few days to ensure safe delivery to the residents.
Those interested in donating are asked to email Jessica at [email protected] and cc Christine Wilkinson at [email protected] to make arrangements.
Ways to help
- Donate items needed
- Raise money towards the items going into the gift bags
- Donate money for students to purchase items for the gift bags
