A partnership between the Drumheller Scotiabank and Continuing Care is giving seniors a chance to have a merry Christmas through the Adopt a Grandparent program.
Valley residents are asked to stop by the Scotiabank and pick a card from their tree. Inside, the card contains the wish list of a continuing care resident. Those participating would then buy from the list and bring the gift to Scotiabank.
“They wish for socks, sweaters, blankets, perfume, or even shampoo,” said Patti Rishce-Cole. “With continuing care, they have to pay for their own shampoo for example, so this helps them out.”
As of Monday, December 12, there were roughly forty continuing care residents awaiting adoption.
“We’re off to a slow start this year,” said Rische-Cole. “We’ve only got a week to get them adopted.”
The program started in 2000 to help continuing care residents, who were felt would not receive any gifts, get something for the holidays. Continuing care staff bought gifts initially, but the need became so great that they started the Adopt a Grandparent program.
All of the gifts will be taken to continuing care on Christmas Eve and given to the recipients.