The holidays are times to make memories with family and friends. But sometimes, elderly members of our community face the season alone with nothing but their memories of Christmas past.
Hollie Boland and her family visit her husband’s grandmother, who is a resident of Innisfil's Lakeside Retirement, three times per week. She was not aware that some seniors spend the season in solitude until she kept hearing the same comments from other residents — such as, “Your family is here again?” — as residents were often surprised that she and her family were visiting so often.
“At first, you don't think much of it, but then you're like, ‘Why is that such a shocking thing?’” Boland asked.
“A lot of them are kinda alone a lot of the time,” Boland said after reflecting on stories that she has heard. “And they find so much joy in just having an outsider come in. And when I started thinking about that, I'm like, you know, these people were our age not long ago, and they were the ones hosting Christmas, basically putting the Christmas magic for us into it, and I don't want them to ever feel like they've been forgotten about.”
Thus, Cards for Seniors was created, as Boland, who is a mother of three daughters, decided to invite the community to join her and her family in writing holiday cards for the approximately 100 residents of Lakeside.
“You can preach to your children over and over again how to be empathetic or give of yourself or just be a kind person, but leading by example is number one — always,” Boland said.
Boland and her family gathered for a Christmas party over the weekend where they wrote cards and poems for the initiative.
“Start with the card,” Boland suggested, but she encouraged others to express their talents, as her youngest loves art, while her eldest expresses herself through the written word.
“If children wanted to … make artwork or poems or whatever they wanted to give, anything's welcome.”
One of Boland’s neighbours made 120 key chains for the residents that can hang from mobility devices, like walkers.
This is not the first time Boland has made a conscious effort to “hone in on” the Christmas spirit and what it means to be a “kind person” in an effort to combat “what social media puts into children and other influences.”
In previous years, her daughters would earn $20 each, purchase $5 gift cards and hand them out to people who looked like they “needed (a) pick-me-up during the holidays or put a smile on their face. They would just walk over, say ‘Merry Christmas’, and give them the card,” she explained.
Boland partnered with Jennifer Richardson — a town councillor who has founded several community events in recent years.
“I like to be involved in anything with the community, anything that helps support the community, anything that brings joy to the community. So, of course, I was on board,” Richardson said. “It's such a great idea. It's such a great way to help everybody feel special and wanted and needed and just loved on Christmas.”
She noted that she visits her grandfather, who lives in a long-term care facility in Bradford.
“There's one guy at my grandfather's residence that every time we go, he's like, oh, will you visit me too? Every time," Richardson said. “You can see who does not have visitors ... You can tell it on their faces. One hundred per cent."
Richardson said members from the Holy Cross Catholic School and Quiet Waters Montessori Academy communities told her they would be dropping off cards made by students in class for the initiative.
“That makes my heart just melt,” Richardson said.
With the ongoing Canada Post strike, Richardson noted that these cards may be the only ones residents receive.
“We didn't even know that was gonna happen,” Boland said in reference to the strike. “So, this is extra special.”
“When the community can participate in this, you can put the pause on the stress of the holidays and get together and do something that's wholesome. And, you know, it's not about money, but it doesn't cost money. It's just spending time together and doing something sweet,” Boland said.
Community members are asked to drop off cards for seniors at 1177 Mary Lou St. — there are small and large bins to collect the donated cards and artwork — no later than Dec. 13. They will be delivered to Lakeside on Dec. 15.
