Organizers says a volunteer program to help seniors over the holidays is more important this year than ever before.
Kendra Shot has run the Queens Santa’s for Seniors program for the past four years. When she started, donors would select an anonymous senior from a list on the Queens Santa’s for Seniors Facebook page and buy gifts for them from their wish list. A team of 30 volunteers would gather the gift parcels and distribute them to over 400 seniors across Queens County.
Last year Shot decided the work had become too much to handle between trying to receive, store and deliver the items so the program shifted away from gifts to gift cards. She says the move didn’t sit well with some people, but it was the right thing to do.
“I've had seniors say ... 'this is a good idea because I can go get what I need' because sometimes they’ll say they wanted lotion or sweatpants or something and they got the wrong sizes, or they got the wrong colour. So this way they can go purchase what they need,” said Shot.
Seniors can select gift cards from any retail store in the area with most choosing stores that offer pharmacy or food options. Shot says the choices they make show seniors are being particularly hard hit by the rise of inflation.
“Their pensions aren’t going up to reflect the cost of food, the cost of heating fuel. I mean, I don't want to get into the political matter of it all, but I have some that are like, I don't know I’m either going to pay for my oil or this will help me get a little groceries because I have to get oil this month and I'm not going to have much left over for food,” said Shot.
Over 300 seniors received cards last year and Shot is hopeful now that everyone has adjusted to the move from gifts to gift cards, even more will be handed out this year.
She only opened the 2023 edition a week ago and already 252 seniors are on her list, and half of those have already been selected. Shot would like to see businesses and workplaces band together to participate. That way, the financial load is spread across a larger number of people.
To nominate or select a senior for the Santa’s for Seniors program Shot says people can visit the Facebook page or call her directly at 902 -646-0265.
To hear the complete interview with Kendra Shot click play below: