What started out as one student’s idea to help brighten the holidays for local seniors snowballed into an outpouring of generous gift donations from the College community.
On the morning of December 17, volunteer students and faculty from the Recreation Therapy program were as busy as Santa’s elves at the Welland Campus, packaging items donated by the NC community into195 gift bags, packaged with care and delivered to Gilmore Lodge in Fort Erie and Millennium Trail Manor in Niagara Falls in time for Christmas.
In addition to the gifts for residents, the students also delivered a large basket of holiday DVDS and CDS to Millennium Trail Manor, which will be dedicated to common areas of the home. Collected items that would not be appropriate or permitted for residents due to COVID restrictions were also gifted to staff members at the residences.
This NC holiday giving initiative was led by student volunteers Jessica De Freitas, Brittany Richards and Jelena Vicentic, with help from their professor and program coordinator Christine Wilkinson.
“Our drop-off of 195 Christmas bags to residents of Gilmore Lodge and Millennium Trail Manor was a wonderful culmination of the hard work of Brittany, Jelena and Jessica over the last few weeks, and the generous contributions of many from the College and the community,” said Wilkinson. “The staff at the homes were so grateful that their residents will receive these gift bags and you could tell that this gesture meant a lot to the staff as well, to know that the community is thinking of them at this difficult time.”
“This was an amazing and rewarding experience,” said De Freitas who came up with the idea after seeing firsthand, while working at a retirement home, how many seniors have been isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic – even without their residences being impacted directly. “I really just hope this all brings a smile to the residents in long-term care homes. That is what Christmas is about, making others smile, not the commercial-ness of gifts.”
“I am truly grateful to have had this opportunity to connect with my fellow peers, faculty, and community to make this happen,” said Vicentic, who noted that she was looking forward to giving back many times in the future.
Randy Anderson, director of Recreation Services at Millennium Trail Manor, expressed his heartfelt thanks to students, faculty and staff from Niagara College.
“2020 has been a trying time for everyone … to have positive initiatives coming from Niagara College in this dire time is like a lifeline,” said Anderson.
He noted that the residents have not had much interaction with members of the community for many months, other than with staff.
“The youth and enthusiasm of students is a reminder to our residents of who they once were; residents need to know that life will go on,” he said. “Having students in our home brings a little youthfulness, optimism that reminds residents that their loved ones will get through this and life can and will be wonderful once again.”
Antonietta Todd, program manager at Gilmore Lodge, noted that they were grateful to the students and staff of Niagara College for reaching out to Gilmore Lodge during the holiday season.
“This partnership is a true demonstration of the community working together to brighten the spirits of our residents during this pandemic,” said Todd. “The thoughtfulness bestowed unto our residents demonstrates that random acts of kindness can go a long way in putting a smile on someone’s face.
“I can’t wait to see how much joy this will bring to our residents on Christmas Day.”
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- Gifts are delivered to Gilmore Lodge.
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- Millennium Trail gets a special delivery from NC.
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- Gifts are quarantined to ensure safe delivery to residents after drop off (photo submitted by Millennium Trail).
Related article:
Dec. 7, 2020: Help Rec Therapy students bring Christmas to local seniors impacted by COVID-19
