By Sarah Flemming
Executive Director, United Way of Colchester County
As seen in the December issue of the Shoreline Journal
Every year at this time, we hear from our community in a big way.
Our Elves for Elders program — which was created by a local couple in 2014 who saw a need in the community and worked to fill it — has grown every year.
And this year is no different.
In case you aren’t familiar with the program, the United Way works with Senior Care facilities and other similar organizations throughout Colchester county to anonymously identify the seniors in our community who would benefit from the program — someone who is isolated over the holidays and might not otherwise be receiving a gift at Christmas — and what items are on their wish list. Gift tags with these items are then placed on trees at various locations* for the public to choose from.
Nancy Crosby at Classic Rentals joined as a sponsor four years ago and hasn’t looked back.
“It was a very easy decision to get on board with Elves for Elders,” says Crosby. “Since it is such a wonderful program to show seniors in our community that we care and that they are important to us.”
Once gifts are purchased — either by members of our generous community or through sponsorship dollars — the United Way, with the help of our Youth Committee and volunteers, then delivers them to the senior care facilities to be distributed to the seniors to brighten up their holidays.
We are incredibly grateful to the sponsors, partners, individuals, organizations and friends who support this program each year. We couldn’t make it happen without our community cheerleaders stepping up to help us out, as they always do.
Nancy Crosby said it best when she said: “We help out each year to put a smile on someone’s face during the holidays and to possibly help them not feel alone.”
If you would like to support seniors throughout Colchester County with a gift to open at Christmas, here’s how you can help:
- *Find on of our Elves for Elders trees at the following locations:
- Alderberry Village
- Classic Rentals LTD.
- Elegant Steps
- Marigold Cultural Centre
- Truro Farmers Market Cooperative
- Select a tag from the tree with the gift you would like to purchase.
- Please return your new, unwrapped gifts to Elegant Steps (58 Inglis Place) or United Way (inside the Marigold Centre, 605 Prince Street), during regular business hours by (UPDATED) Monday, December 11 at 4:00 pm.
Please note:
- Gift total: $20 – $25
- Gift bags and tissue paper only
If you cannot purchase the gift you chose, please return the tag to the United Way office or call 902 895-9313 with your tag #.