Lloydminster and District Co-op is celebrating their fifth anniversary of Spread a Little Love this Christmas.
The campaign started on Tuesday, November 12 and will run through Friday, November 29. Leanne Hawes, CEO of Lloydminster and District Co-op, believes that the campaign is successful because of the community support.
“We are very excited today to announce the opening of our Spread a Little Love this Christmas campaign. It’s a very special year for us, this is our fifth anniversary of the program. Today, we are here to open up the tree of ornaments for the community to come and select, and then purchase to go towards a senior in one of communities.”
There is even more to celebrate, other Co-ops throughout western Canada is starting to do similar campaigns this Christmas season.
At the Co-op Marketplace or at any three Gas Bars, there will be a tree with paper ornaments. The ornament have a request from a senior in the community. Once a gift is purchased, it can be returned to any Co-op location. Neilburg Co-op will also have an ornament tree.
Fourteen centres will benefit from Spread a Little Love this Christmas. Some included are Dr. Cooke Extended Care Centre, Lloydminster Continuing Care Centre, and Pioneer Lodge and House. Centres in Neilburg, Marsden, Maidstone and Lashburn will also receive gifts.
Director of Continuing Care for Lloydminster and Area for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Leonard Wegner believes it’s great for residents to wake up in the morning and receive gifts.
“Once you get into a long-term care facility, you don’t have a lot of room anymore, and it’s those things that you could put on and have an immediate effect. Put on a nice pair of warm socks, on a cold morning. Once you get to that stage, you don’t need the big expensive things anymore, it’s those little things that mean a lot.”
Wegner says the residents are amazed that residents in the community would buy them gifts when they do not know them. He believes that seniors play a big part in the community and this is a small way to show support for the residents.
Hawes estimates almost 700 seniors will receive a gift. A typical request will be under $20.
“When we go through the gifts, we label them all to make sure they get to the proper homes, and there are so many personal touches from cards from kids, stories, and it’s really quite touching to see the connection between, certainly, the residents and our communities.”
After Friday, Nob ember 29, gifts are sorted. They will be delivered by some Lloydminster Co-op staff, and residents will receive their gifts on Christmas day.