More than 1,300 Chilliwack seniors will have a brighter Christmas this year thanks to the kindness of the community.
Hundreds of people took part in Adopt-A-Senior, a program where lonely seniors are paired with people in the community who then buy gifts for elderly residents. Each senior makes a list of their likes and dislikes, and then donors buy items specifically for their chosen senior.
This year, nearly 1,000 seniors applied to be adopted. All care homes in Chilliwack registered, plus several independent-living seniors signed up as well.
But organizer Allyson McKenzie, executive director of charitable organization Chilliwack Adopt-A-Senior, along with fellow organizer Tracy Liable knew there were more seniors out there who could use a little Christmas joy.
McKenzie personally sought out and found low-income apartment complexes where hundreds more seniors live. That brought the total to more than 1,300 seniors receiving gifts.
On Saturday, Nov. 30, the parking lot at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a busy place as people dropped off gift bags filled with presents for their adopted senior. Other people, who were not paired with a specific senior, brought boxes and bags of donations as well.
"I've cried twice today. The generosity is amazing," McKenzie said, surrounded by tables of gifts in the church gym. "It's overwhelming. It's just incredible."
The following day, on Sunday, Dec. 1, the gifts were loaded onto two moving trucks. Each truck took two loads and delivered the presents to care homes in Chilliwack. In addition to the four truckloads, they delivered several carloads as well.
Dozens of volunteers helped out with Adopt-A-Senior as people were needed to help organize the gifts on Saturday during drop-off day, and then even more people, including kids from local sports teams, helped out on delivery day.
The program started back in 2020 during the pandemic. It was a way to bring Christmas to lonely seniors – most who live in care homes – who could not have visitors due to COVID-19 restrictions. In its inaugural year, more than 600 seniors were adopted.
"We want to keep growing. There are so many more seniors that need help," McKenzie said.
