Santa's for Peterborough Seniors

Santa's for Peterborough Seniors

Santa’s For Peterborough Seniors was conceived 8 years ago. Seniors are the foundation of every community and are forgotten about daily, with Christmas being no exception. Through no fault of their own, they will not receive a gift to open Christmas morning from anyone. Jay Lough Hayes did something about that.

Santa’s For Peterborough Seniors was born 8 years ago. Seniors are the foundation of every community and are forgotten about daily, with Christmas being no exception. Through no fault of their own, they will not receive a gift to open Christmas morning from anyone. Jay Lough Hayes did something about that.

In September, Jay and her elves start calling every retirement home, church, Salvation Army, the Lions Centre and any agency where we might fi nd a forgotten senior citizen. Local radio stations and newspapers donate time and space to get the word out as well. First names, with gift suggestions and clothing sizes, come in to her North Pole office where they carefully write the information on a recycled Christmas card. Attaching a festive ribbon, they hang all these cards on Christmas trees. These trees are sent out on November 12th , and set up on November 12th at these locations: the Water St. Police Station, Sherbrooke St. Fire Station, Dr. Fernando’s Eye Care offi ce on High St., the Kawartha Credit Union in Lansdowne Mall, CRA, Nexicom, Quaker, Ventra Plastics, STC Bus Lines and at Active Living Physiotherapy.

Opening their hearts and wallets, generous locals choose a name or two from the trees, purchase and wrap with the name card and take their generous gifts back to the tree they chose the cards from. Just before Christmas, once all the gifts are sorted, the charitable people at Brinks donate a sleigh (truck) and 2 elves to help deliver the gifts to the receiving seniors, who will never know where their Christmas gift came from. Over the past 7 years, on average they have delivered between 400 - 500 gifts. This year will be no different. Unfortunately, not all agencies choose to participate, but the ones that do send Santa thank you cards and hugs year after year. Last year Santa heard of a senior desperately needing a set of teeth. With the magic of Christmas, local businesses dug deep to ensure this senior enjoyed Christmas dinner!

To find out more about the Santa’s for Peterborough Seniors charity, call 705-772-1025.

Merry Christmas from Jay Lough Hayes and her Elves!