By Barb Pert Templeton
If you’re looking for a way to help out local seniors and make the holidays a bit brighter for them look no further than the Washington Life Center (WLC) – Council on Aging in Marine City.
The center currently boasts two programs, Elfed and Blessing Boxes, both designed to help create a happy holiday season for local seniors but they still need the public’s help to make it happen.
WLC Activity Director Merri Peterson said the Elfed program is now in its third year and it’s been a great success. Over 100 seniors in communities from Marine City to St. Clair received visits from the center’s Elf Mobile last year.
The “Elf Mobile” takes local volunteers to area seniors’ homes to present them with packages from the “Elfed” program. The volunteers, dressed as Santa’s elves, also sing Christmas carols to the seniors they visit.
Anyone is welcome to call and place a senior on the Elfed list for a $15 donation. The funds provide several small gifts, some candy, a card, and real live elf carolers who serenade seniors outside their homes. Peterson said local businesses often donated items too like hand sanitizers or pens and those are included with the gifts for the seniors.
The packing day for the Elfed loot is set for Friday, Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Washington Life Center and volunteers are still needed for that task, Peterson said.
The Elf Mobile, usually crowded with a dozen costumed volunteers from the community and the center, will make their way to seniors’ doors across the area on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 18 and 19. Peterson said last year was the first time they could allow volunteers to board the Elf Mobile due to COVID and they all seemed to have a blast. The 2022 roster also included students from the National Honor Society at Marine City High School.
“It’s a lot of fun and it’s a full day, we’re out there from 9 a.m. until 3:30 pm.” Peterson said.
New Blessing Boxes program
In addition to the very successful Elfed program, the center is introducing a second program that also targets the needs of area seniors.
The “Elfed” Program was launched three years ago to provide special visits and small gifts to area seniors. Volunteers board a bus to make their deliveries.
“We know seniors out there who are making decisions about whether they can afford food or medicine so we wanted to help,” Petersons said.
In this case, the Blessing Boxes for Seniors will include donations of paper products, toiletries, and cleaning products – things most people take for granted, Peterson said. A few small wrapped Christmas presents will also be put in each box, things like hats, scarves, mittens, socks, or perhaps a set of playing cards or a small holiday figurine.
“I would collect large items for the gifts but we don’t have any room here at the center to store them,” Peterson said.
So far, the Blessing Boxes for Seniors has a pretty short list of recipients but Peterson is hoping more people call in so they can add to their list for the program in the weeks before Christmas.
She added that you don’t have to know the person or event their name, maybe you notice a senior in your neighborhood that doesn’t get many visitors and could use a Blessing Box, they would be added to the list. She said even if someone notices a mother in the community who’s struggling, the center will do what they can to help her as well.
Delivery of the Blessing Boxes will be on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
For more information or to make a donation to either program, call the Washington Life Center – Council on Aging and ask for Merri at (810)765-3523.
