P.E.I. seniors get help battling loneliness with Christmas gift program
Be a Santa to a Senior helps 1,000 Islanders struggling with poverty and loneliness during holidays
There was a gift-wrapping party in Summerside, P.E.I., Wednesday as volunteers got presents ready for the Be a Santa to a Senior program.
Each Christmas season, Islanders are asked to donate presents to seniors who are alone or impoverished, often those who have lost spouses or loved ones.
"It is heartbreaking to think of the senior members of our community spending the holidays all by themselves, without any gifts or any way to celebrate the season," said David McMillan, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care franchise for P.E.I.
The public was asked to take an ornament from special Christmas trees in communities all around the Island, which had the first names of seniors and their gift requests.
Those were then brought back for Wednesday's wrapping. The goal for 2015 was to reach 1,000 seniors on the Island.
It's more than just the gift, said McMillan.
"Even more importantly, the visit that comes with the delivery could make their holiday season."
This is Be a Santa to a Senior's ninth year on P.E.I.