London Drugs is bringing back its popular Stocking Stuffers for Seniors’ holiday donation drive, which provided gifts to more than 20,000 seniors across Western Canada in 2019.
The simple gesture of giving a gift could mean the world to thousands of seniors who are seeing increased isolation this holiday season due to COVID-19 protective protocols.
Supporters can visit their local London Drugs between now and Dec. 16 to choose a tag from the tree that contains the wish list, or everyday essentials, of a local senior.
The gifts are then safely delivered to the seniors before Christmas.
To ensure the utmost safety for seniors, staff and volunteers of the program this year, each London Drugs location is working with their program partner(s) and elder care experts to ensure the program meets their specific safety requirements for the safe collection and transfer of gifts that will be delivered to the seniors by approved personnel and volunteers.
“2020 has been a challenging and difficult year for many of us, but it’s especially affected our elderly Canadian population,” said Clint Mahlman, President and Chief Operating Officer, London Drugs. “We all know the effects of isolation and loneliness on our seniors have been significant during the pandemic, and the goal of the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors’ program is to show our seniors we care, we are thinking of them, and we are here for them—even if we can’t be there for them in person this year.”
Each London Drugs will have information posted next to the Stocking Stuffers for Seniors’ tree with information on how the participating care homes will be managing the gifts to keep their seniors safe. In many instances, donated gifts will be isolated for 72 hours prior to internal distribution to the seniors.
The Stocking Stuffers for Seniors’ donation drive concept originated in British Columbia’s Okanagan, and expanded to Edmonton in 2015 with a goal to help 40 low-income seniors by providing them with simple gifts such as food, hygiene products or warmth items. The campaign has grown quickly to now include all 81 London Drugs locations in 35 cities across Western Canada.
Since the campaign started, approximately 44,000 packages have been delivered to seniors.
