Actions

Community donates Christmas gifts to senior home residents

Posted at 4:30 AM, Dec 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-15 10:28:16-05

MILFORD, Ohio -- About 100 senior citizens got to unwrap gifts thanks to members of the community.

Residents from four different senior homes were able to write their requests in a Christmas ornament at the Milford Kroger.

"The community that shops at Kroger picks up the ornament, buys the gifts and then returns them unwrapped and then we wrap them and distribute them," Home Instead Senior Care home care consultant Sarah Frey said. 

Frey said she put about 25 ornaments on the tree at first, and they were gone within days.

"We had to hurry up, quickly replenish more requests," she said. 

Frey has been doing this for seven years.

"For a couple of years, we did about 50 gifts," she said. "Last year we did 75, and this year we're up to almost 100."

Some of the requests are for winter necessities like scarves or blankets. Others request snacks or cookies. Many ask for toiletries. The gifts generally aren't expensive, but they mean a lot to those who receive them. 

"The seniors are moved to tears," Frey said. "They're so thrilled to get the gifts."