Stocking Stuffers for Seniors (Image credit: London Drugs)

By Pete McIntyre

Stocking Stuffers for Seniors

‘Heartwarming’ program brings holiday joy to seniors

Dec 6, 2023 | 6:00 AM

A program initiated by a B.C.-based company is helping seniors in Vernon, and other Western Canadian communities, enjoy a merrier Christmas.

Stocking Stuffers for Seniors was originally started by a store manager at London Drugs in Kelowna 18 years ago to provide gifts to seniors who were alone, without family, or facing financial issues. Back then it was known as “Be a Santa to a senior.”

The name was changed to Stocking Stuffers for Seniors in 2015 when it went company-wide at 80 stores, and has since helped over 75,000 seniors.

Shannon Hubick is the assistant store manager of London Drugs in Vernon, and says the program helps provide hundreds of gifts to local seniors every year.

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“It’s just such an amazing, heartwarming program to be a part of,” Hubick told Vernon Matters.

Hubick says their store reached out to 10 different care homes in the Vernon area, and from those homes, they have accumulated over 500 tags, or gift requests, from seniors.

“The homes fill out the tags and bring them back to the store and then tags are hung on the tree and our customers come in and choose a tag off the tree, purchase the items, put them in a gift bag and bring them back to us at the store. We then make arrangements with the nursing home to deliver these gifts bag,” Hubick explained.

Of the original 500 gift requests, just ten tags remain on the tree at the Vernon store, although they are still waiting for about 200 gifts and tags to be returned before Dec. 15. That deadline gives store employees enough time to get the gifts out to the homes.

“The impact is so heart warming,” Hubick remarked. “We will get cards and pictures and letters from residents of the different care homes as they are opening up gifts. Some of these residents haven’t had a Christmas gift for years because they have no family, they have nobody who comes to visit them, they are alone. And they almost become child-like again with the excitement.”

Hubick said the care home residents ask for a lot of generic items that they can use everyday.

“Things like blankets, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, hair brushes, socks, toques or a warm sweater. There is never any extravagance on these lists ever. It’s always basic need items.”

Hubick said they are still accepting gifts as they have some generic tags on the tree if people still want to help out.

“And I have to say our customers that have been sponsoring these seniors for years, they often go far and beyond what is listed on the tags. They will throw in puzzles and suduko books. Our customers and the community always come through for them.

People do not have to buy the gifts from London Drugs to take part.

“The holiday season is a time for giving, and it’s essential that we extend our generosity to those who need it most,” Clint Mahlman, president and COO of London Drugs, said. “Our Stocking Stuffers for Seniors initiative aims to provide essential support and bring joy to the lives of seniors who may be experiencing financial hardship. It is about letting them know that they are not forgotten over the holidays, and that their community truly cares about their well-being.”