Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

KAMLOOPS CENTRE FOR SENIORS INFORMATION

Operation: Secret Santa ready to deliver hundreds of gifts to seniors

Dec 16, 2020 | 4:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — Hundreds of seniors who may be feeling lonely this Christmas will be given a little extra cheer next week.

The Kamloops Centre for Seniors Information (CSI) has gathered supplies for more than 600 gift bags for Operation: Secret Santa.

Santa’s workshop has taken over the CSI Brock Activity Centre for sorting and preparing the gift packages for delivery. Executive Director Brandi Allen says this year will be the most successful campaign the centre has had.

“This is the seventh year that we’ve done the Secret Santa program. The first year we started we did 75 packages and this year we anticipate about 600.”

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Packages contain comfort items such as blankets, hygiene supplies, candy, books and games. The idea is to give gifts to seniors who may not be able to spend Christmas with their family or friends. But the campaign is also meant to show seniors the community still cares about them and they’re not alone.

“We’ve definitely had a lot more nominations this year. I think given the pandemic there’s a lot more social isolation than usual. I think people that have never experienced social isolation previously are really getting what its like for a lot of these seniors — which is why we’ve experienced such an influx of donations.”

The donation deadline is approaching Thursday (Dec. 17), but late gift supplies can still be purchased from London Drugs and money can be donated directly to the centre.

Allen adds the centre appreciates all the support from community members and the program wouldn’t happen without it.