December 26, 2019 The Delta Optimist A27
Christmas Greetings
Bria revives ‘Santa’ program to deliver gifts to seniors
This year Santa got a little bit of extra help providing gifts to seniors in Delta from staff and residents at The Waterford and The Wexford senior living communities. In 2018, Deltassist was disappointed to cancel the Santa for Seniors program due to a lack of funding. This year, a new partnership with Bria Communities saw The Waterford and The Wexford take over the program. Low-income seniors in Delta who applied for the Deltassist Christmas hamper program had the opportunity to request a special gift delivered by a Bria volunteer in the week before Christmas. Seniors requested gifts such as electric heating pads, pillows, magnifying glasses and socks. Gifts were purchased specifically for each person and elves from The Waterford and The Wexford wrapped the personalized presents and packed them into red Bria bags. The bags also included delicious homemade cookies, Christmas cards with a friendly personal greeting, and hand-knit scarves and hats made by knitters from The Wexford. With overflowing bags, volunteers from Bria and Century Group travelled throughout Tsawwassen, Ladner and North Delta to deliver gifts. Gloria and Garry, a senior couple who live along River Road, were overwhelmed with thankfulness when Santa stopped by.
“This means so much,” said Gloria. “Now we have something to underneath our tree.” “This has been a fantastic partnership,” said Tanya Snow, director of Bria Communities. “It’s the time of year when seniors can fall through the cracks. We want them to know we see them and care. Our vision is that all seniors’ lives are enriched with friendship, happiness and purpose regardless of their financial situation.” SUBMITTED PHOTO
Jytte Betson-Fowler (left), Desley Cook and Betty Selbie, residents of The Wexford in Tsawwassen, pack personalized gifts in the Santa for Seniors program.
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