Thanks to Niagara College’s Recreation Therapy Program, 85 seniors in our community are feeling the Christmas cheer this holiday season.
Led by Recreation Therapy Professor Beth Astles, Niagara College partnered with Stockings of Love, a community initiative that provides thoughtfully filled stockings to seniors living alone or in long-term care homes, to prepare and deliver 85 stockings to residents at Royal Rose Place, a long-term care home in Welland.
Students volunteered their time to participate in Stockings of Love, an initiative that provides full stockings to seniors living alone or in long term care homes.
This year marks the fourth consecutive year Niagara College has participated in the Stockings of Love initiative, continuing a tradition of connection, compassion, and community care during the holiday season.
“These small gestures can have a really big impact,” said Astles. “For many seniors, especially those living alone or in long-term care, the holidays can be a difficult time. Knowing that someone is thinking of them and took the time to create something just for them can bring a lot of comfort and joy.”
Beyond spreading holiday cheer, the initiative also provided hands-on learning opportunities for Recreation Therapy students. Through planning, organizing, and delivering the stockings, students applied key program learning outcomes such as therapeutic recreation planning, client-centred care, empathy, compassion, and community engagement. The experience also helped students better understand the social and emotional needs of older adults and the role recreation therapy plays in enhancing quality of life.
Each stocking was carefully assembled with items designed to bring warmth, entertainment, and a festive spirit, including:
- Cozy socks
- Lotion and personal care items
- Fun holiday accessories such as antler headbands and Santa hats
- Word searches, puzzle books, and colouring books
- Individually wrapped snacks
- Small keepsakes residents can enjoy in their rooms
Through initiatives like Stockings of Love, Niagara College’s Recreation Therapy Program continues to connect classroom learning with real-world impact while supporting student success and strengthening community partnerships.
