Many seniors residing in care homes are alone during the holiday season. During this time, few get to experience the simple gesture of receiving a Christmas present with their name on it.
This all changed thanks to a generous Christmas elf by the name of Ashley Armstrong.
Now in its eighth year, the ‘Christmas Spirit for Seniors’ initiative began when Armstrong and her family were looking for a way to honour the memory of her brother, Craig Althouse, who died in 1990.
“He had a really big soft spot for seniors. It sort of was a remembrance of him, and his birthday was on Christmas Eve,” she recalled. “We’ve always tried to do something special for him and just acknowledge his love for seniors, and then recognized there was an absolute need for (this idea) in Moose Jaw.”
Armstrong started by asking local care homes about seniors in their care who would be alone for Christmas, and for those seniors to submit a wishlist.
The project was then supported by the Moose Jaw Public Library, the Sahara Spa, and the YMCA.
“When I first started the program what I needed was a public space that people could come and sign out these wishlists, and then a place to bring them back. That’s where Sahara Spa has come in and has been a wonderful venue since this happened,” she said.
At the end of October, Armstrong reaches out to update the list. With everyone reached, she prepares hand-written tags to drop off at the Sahara Spa for their Christmas tree.
“The public comes in, and they grab a tag for one of the seniors in Moose Jaw,” she said. Participants then shop for one or more items on their list. “Sometimes they can only do one or two items. Sometimes they go way overboard and fill their tags with a bazillion different things.”
These gifts are returned to the Sahara Spa with the tag, and in a lot of cases, items on the list including ‘Warm Buddy’ robes, lotions, or other skincare products are available right at the spa. “A lot of (Sahara Spa’s) care line is super good for senior’s skin,” she noted.
This year’s campaign kicked off on Nov. 25, and Armstrong and her mother spent most of the following day hand-writing the names on each of the 353 tags. “I feel like it’s… more special (that way),” she said.
“Every year has been a success. We’ve never not sold a tag – it’s been really cool,” Armstrong said, noting that the project has been well-received by the community and took off by word of mouth. Last year saw a record 481 gifts received.
In 2021, Barb Jackman with Dance Images by BJ assisted, and her dance group did a little number for the seniors. Last year, the U13 AA Warriors hockey team offered their help.
“Every place that we stopped they sang a Christmas carol, and the seniors loved it,” she said about the team. “They loved it so much and loved helping with the delivery so much that they’re going to be my buddies again this year.” That group now plays in the U15 Warriors league.
“(The seniors are) so elated and grateful,” Armstrong said. “The seniors know me now… and they’ll call me ‘Santa’ or ‘Mrs. Claus’.”
“Every single year when I walk in to do the delivery, we see an extreme amount of gifts sitting there. Again, to see peoples faces light up – from the seniors to the care workers to everybody involved – it just makes the season so much better,” she said.
Armstrong wanted to thank everyone – past and present – who has helped. She mentioned her mother, Leona Althouse, and her son, Brenton Armstrong, who has helped sort and deliver presents.
“We would not be eight years running with this program if it wasn’t for the absolute humongous heart of the people in (this) city,” she acknowledged.
To sign up for the program next year, reach out through the Facebook page, ‘Christmas Spirit for Seniors.’
To stop by the Sahara Spa and purchase a gift for a senior, the location is 341 Stadacona Street East, and the number is 306-692-1012.
The gift-giving deadline is Dec. 20 and gifts will be distributed on Dec. 22.
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