Share Your Christmas: Gifts for care center residents provide connection during holidays
From riding bikes and growing up in small towns to raising children and working in jobs as adults, care center residents here share moments from lives rich with meaning. Through Share Your Christmas, the community has the opportunity to let them know that they, too, are remembered.
No. 49: Memories of summer days in a small town
The Christmas gift list for Patsy is typical of care center residents’ modest requests: She would appreciate a warm sweatsuit and slippers, plus special treats such as Mountain Dew, Hershey bars and cashews.
Growing up in small town, Patsy remembers a happy childhood spent playing outside in the summer. With her health declining now, she misses that loss of independence, yet she continues to make a positive impact on those around her. Care center staff describe Patsy as a “very kind, sweet lady who enjoys helping others.”
No. 50: Resident who once worked in a care center shares appreciation for staff
Riding her bicycle and visiting friends are special childhood memories for Donna, a care center resident who has lived in Springfield all her life. Having worked as a cook in a care center herself, she is very familiar with the challenges the kitchen staff face and says she appreciates the meals they serve.
Clothing needs for this older resident include a sweatsuit, knit pants, socks and underwear. Coke, 7-Up, and chocolate chip cookies complete her simple gift list.
No. 51: Christmas a favorite for one-time caregiver
Throughout her adult life, Doris has been involved in caring for other people. After serving as a medic in the military, she was part of the nursing staff at a local hospital. Christmas has always been a favorite holiday for her, and she remembers the excitement of watching her children unwrap their gifts.
Practical gifts she would like to find in her Christmas box are a blue sweatsuit, long-sleeved shirt, jeans and slippers. She likes popcorn to snack on while playing the Ladder Game with other residents. Diet Pepsi and soft chocolate chip cookies would complete her list of treats.
No. 52: Winter recalls ice-skating in Canada
Growing up in Canada, winter was Stanley’s favorite season — especially when he could go ice-skating. This athletic care center resident once excelled at soccer and other sports until health issues forced him to give them up.
Today, Stanley enjoys bingo and bocce ball at the center. At the Christmas party there, he hopes his gift box will include a shirt, jeans and socks as well as treats of Coke, Oreos and suckers.
About Share Your Christmas, how to donate
Share Your Christmas is the News-Leader’s and Crosslines’ annual campaign to give readers the opportunity to share their holiday spirit with others. This year, about 30 families and more than 80 care-center residents will have a brighter Christmas, thanks to Share Your Christmas donors.
Families and care-center residents may be adopted by a single donor or by a group working together to help one of the larger families. Donors may adopt an entire family, one family member, donate a single gift or donate any amount of money. Every dollar helps. Readers who wish to donate gifts can call Share Your Christmas at 417-866-8008 or email share@ccozarks.org. Callers should refer to the story number they wish to help, and they will be given specific information such as clothing sizes.
Gifts must be delivered to the east side of the Crosslines building, at 615 N. Glenstone Ave. The hours to deliver gifts are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 10. If you are unable to deliver donations at these times, call 417-866-8008 to make other arrangements.
To make a monetary donation, send a check payable to Crosslines, Share Your Christmas, and the story number, if applicable, in the memo line. If the needs of that family or care-center resident have been met and you are willing to help others in the Crosslines holiday programs, please write “or as needed” in the memo line. Donations can be made at http://crosslinesholiday.org/give/or mailed to Share Your Christmas, 615 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield MO 65802. Monetary donations are welcome any time of year.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Share Your Christmas: Help care center residents have a happy holiday
