Adopt A Grandparent this holiday season

By Cecilia Nasmith

For the fifth consecutive year, Community Care Northumberland is inviting you to play Santa to a senior through their Adopt A Grandparent program.

This program spreads holiday cheer by surprising seniors who may be experiencing isolation or loneliness with thoughtful gifts.

CCN Chief Executive Officer Trish Baird said community response to the program has always been a tremendous outpouring of generosity.

“This program is a great example of what can happen when our community comes together to meet a local need,” Baird said in the announcement.

CCN is happy to hear from anyone who would be interested in adopting a grandparent, and provided some guidelines for the program.

Purchased gifts can be dropped off to any of the Community Care offices – in Cobourg, Port Hope, Brighton, Colborne, Hastings or Campbellford – on or before Dec. 10. Please deliver them unwrapped (though gift bags and gift baskets are okay).

Donors sometimes like to provide the personal touch, but organizers ask them to kindly refrain from including home baking. And anyone including hand-crafted items like scarves and mittens is asked to please include washing instructions.

Other gift suggestions include gift cards for local scores – or gift certificates for such Community Care programs as Meals On Wheels or their transportation service.

Individuals can also support the Adopt A Grandparent program by making a financial donation and letting CCN staff do the shopping.

For more information – or to be matched with a Grandparent of your own – call Patti Aitken at 905-372-7356 or e-mail wellness@commcare.ca.