On Thursday 12 December, at noon, about 30 Rotarians, partners and friends, congregated at the Veiner Centre in Medicine Hat, for a combination of social time and service.
After a tasty lunch of own choosing and lots of conversation in the Bistro restaurant, we headed for a large room in which we spent the next hour or two, stuffing about half of the pile of 500 Christmas stockings and brown bags.
We were guided and supported in our efforts by Tammy Poole, Transportation and Volunteer Facilitator at the Centre.
This is the first time the Veiner Centre has undertaken their own Christmas stocking stuffing project – “Stockings for Seniors” - and it has received great support from various organizations and community members, including Police Officers, Firemen, and the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat. Our club donated $500 towards the contents of the stockings.
Many of the items were donated via the tags on the Christmas tree at the Centre, which Veiner Centre members and friends took to guide their shopping for specific items for the stockings for men and for women.
The stockings are to bring Christmas cheer into the homes of seniors (50+ years) around town, delivered by Meals-on-Wheels volunteers. Recipients will extend beyond Meals-on-Wheels clients to seniors known to Elder Abuse and members of the Veiner Centre who will be on their own over the festive season.
We were amazed at the variety of goods, which included a range of personal hygiene items, puzzle books, toques, gloves, candy, mugs, gift vouchers, place mats, playing cards, tea, coffee and jam.
Thanks to the artistic efforts of school children, we were able to pop a lovely Christmas card into each stocking.
What a great project! And what a fun time we had! Thank you Veiner Centre for being such a wonderful resource for seniors in Medicine Hat! And thank you, Tammy, for allowing the Rotary Club of Medicine Hat to participate in your festive season ‘STOCKINGS FOR SENIORS’ initiative!