This year dressing up for Christmas means adding PPE.
So when members of the Brookswood Senior Citizens Activity Centre and Bria Communities held a parade Thursday, Dec. 10, their red and green and gold and silver includes safety gear.
In a typical year, these Brookswood seniors would gather monthly for meals and socializing opportunities culminating in a festive Christmas luncheon in December with 鈥渉ot lunch, sing-along, entertainment from one or another of our centre鈥檚 groups, an original skit put on by the executive of the centre, and some sort of gift exchange. This year, of course, we couldn鈥檛 host a luncheon,鈥� said Lydia Francescutti, with the seniors centre.
This year, the centre鈥檚 Food and Friends committee and executive team for the Activity Centre came up with a creative plan to connect with their friends and share the holiday spirit despite COVID-19 restrictions 鈥� a parade delivered directly to the seniors.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been saddened because of all the things we cannot do so wondered if there was anything we could do to put a little cheerfulness back into the holidays,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e needed something where people would be safely distant yet still enjoy themselves in the spirit of the season.鈥�
The seniors centre and Bria, which operates retirement residences in the community, teamed up to deliver an unusual Christmas celebration to the seniors who enjoy the Food and Friends luncheon program at the centre.
They prepared 39 bags of cookies as well as face masks, calendars, mittens. Bria Communities provided swag bags full of additional goodies for seniors to enjoy.
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A number of the Food and Friends seniors dropped by in their cars and received their gifts passed safely through the window.
At 11 a.m., a parade of decorated cars left the activity centre to visit 20 houses throughout 91原创, and deliver the bags and Christmas cheer safely and in a fun way.
鈥淚t is awesome to see seniors thinking of innovative ways to care for each other through these challenging times,鈥� said Sherri Martin, residency coordinator for Bria Communities in 91原创, who participated in the giveaway and parade. 鈥淪ocial isolation is a big issue for seniors right now, and loneliness can be especially hard at Christmas time. This project was such a great way to combat it.鈥�
Francescutti noted that the volunteers at the centre (executive and a few others) collaborate really well.
鈥淓veryone pitched in 鈥� telephoning, decorating, taking photos, baking, collecting gift items, sewing, writing Christmas greetings, assembling the gift bags 鈥� truly a group effort,鈥� she said.
With holiday music playing, lots of social distancing, and Santa Claus driving the Bria Communities courtesy shuttle instead of his sleigh, the parade went from home to home. They delivered greetings of 鈥榳e miss you鈥� and 鈥榳e love you!鈥� along with the festive care packages.
鈥淪eeing the smiles on some of our seniors who are most affected by the pandemic restrictions was immensely gratifying. They clearly appreciated the contact,鈥� Francescutti said.
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Know of a great example of holiday spirit in our community?
Email: heather.colpitts@langleyadvancetimes.com
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