Seniors in the Barrie area are getting a surprise this holiday season via the Christmas Wish 'Bags of Love' campaign by the Senior Wish Association.
Jane Walker, a volunteer for Barrie's Senior Wish Association, says 'Bags of Love' matches seniors with people, schools, and businesses in the community who gift presents of all sorts to the seniors.
Walker says the seniors are nominated through friends, family, caregivers, or care providers, and the gifts are tailored to the individual - with wish lists sometimes being involved.
"We recognize how challenging it can be at Christmastime," Walker told Barrie 360.
"Gifts could range anywhere from toiletries to winter clothing to regular clothing, books, puzzles, lots of people within long-term care homes asked specifically for things that would help people in the dementia unit like dolls, puzzles. And food is another big one."
She says as of Friday, all deliveries will be completed - so - the organization is not asking for nominations or donations - but - there are still opportunities to give back to the seniors and help the association.
"Throughout the year they do wish granting," said Walker. "That's granting wishes for seniors, even the simplest of wishes. This past year we had a senior who had a wish to ride in an old car. We had a senior, a retired police officer who wished to visit the police headquarters."
Walked added that their memory books program also runs throughout the year.
"That's where they pair seniors with young people and the young person will help them create a memory book with all their photos so that they can enjoy looking back at their memories," said Walker.
The volunteer-based association was founded by Barb Richards in 2011.
"Her hopes were to assist seniors living in isolation and alone to be given a Christmas gift," said Walker.
"In 2011, they helped approximately 75 seniors. This year, 2023 - our final totals are not in yet - but we're projected to be between 2,000 and 2,500 that we've assisted."
For more information about the association and programs, click here, or email them at info@aseniorwish.com.
You can also follow them on Facebook (Senior Wish Association), and Instagram (@seniorwishassociation).
Banner image via Senior Wish Association's Facebook
