Operation Secret Santa providing gifts to needy seniors in Kamloops

A Kamloops program designed to give low-income seniors gifts at Christmas continues to grow.

The Centre for Seniors Information has been running Operation Secret Santa for the last four years. It started with just a handful of seniors and now the organization hopes to give presents to around 60 seniors over the holiday season.

"There is a tremendous need," said executive director Brenda Prevost.

"It's the 'somebody cares about me' feeling that they get when they receive this present. Some seniors — it's the only gift they'll get all year."

'From someone special'

The organization gathers donations, either money or items, which get distributed to the seniors. People drop off everything from toothbrushes to batteries to chocolates.

Community members can visit participating stores to get gift ideas. The centre has placed Christmas trees covered in tags with suggestions and information about the program at participating businesses.

"We try to stock the gifts with really useful items that they would have to buy on an ordinary basis," she said. "Things that they don't necessarily buy because they can't afford it."

The seniors are recommended to the centre by community members and the gifts dropped off at the senior's home anonymously on Christmas Eve.

Prevost hopes they don't realize that the gift is coming from Operation Secret Santa.

"We don't expect them to be able to phone us up and say 'gee thank you very much for the gift.' We really want them to think it's from someone special."

'Alone and lonely at Christmas'

Donna Fediuk volunteers at the centre and she's seen people dropping off items for the program.

She said seniors don't always let on that they are in need of something.

"People don't like to come out and ask for help themselves so it's nice if a neighbour volunteers their name and they get some gifts just delivered secretly," said Fediuk.

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B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie sees many seniors who are in need in the province. There are around 400,000 seniors receiving guaranteed income supplements in B.C.

"For seniors, part of it is low-income, but a large part of it is also that they can be alone and lonely at Christmas time," said Mackenzie.

That's where she see programs like this provide a role, but she would still like to see more support put into place to protect vulnerable seniors.

"It's heartwarming that people are reaching out and helping people," she said.

"But you do wonder what happens the rest of the year when they're unable to buy the batteries and some of the other necessities or staples of life."

Prevost says she'd like to see the program continue to grow.

"I would like to see every senior in Kamloops and every other town in B.C. or Canada not have to think about what they're going to have to get for Christmas this year or where they're going to buy their next pair of socks."

Operation Secret Santa will continue to collect donations until Dec. 16.

For more stories about the Kamloops area, check out the Daybreak Kamloops' Facebook page.

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