Playing Santa for a senior a lesson in holiday spirit
By: Matt Preprost | United Way in the News
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Winnipeg Free Press, Saturday December 4, 2010
Reproduced with permission.
Photos: Lucas Pauls
Kadyn Robertson is about the size of an elf, but this Christmas he'll have a larger suit and sash to fill.
Amanda Ritchot and son, Kadyn Robertson, 5. Ritchot says the lesson in helping others is an important one.
"It's a learning thing for him to realize that not everyone has what he has," said his mother, Amanda Ritchot. "He wanted to know 'Why doesn't Santa just doesn't get them a present?' I had to tell him that Santa's priorities are for little kids, so I suggested we bring something to an adult instead."
So Robertson's grandmother plucked off a tag from the wish tree in the offices of Age & Opportunity, the organization that runs the program. Robertson lugged his mom through the snow to several stores to pick out a sweater for Louise, the woman whose wish he'd been tasked to fill. The kindergartner also collected ornaments and crafted a handmade card, which Ritchot plans to have him deliver personally.
"I want him to understand what he bought and see where it goes. When he actually sees the reaction from them, he'll appreciate it a little bit more," Ritchot said. "Now that he's older, I think he understands it better. I'm proud of him for being willing to give up his stuff for them."
The gift is just one of more than 500 requests Age & Opportunity, an agency that works with adults 55 and older, plans to fulfil this season. This is the third year the organization has run the program in Winnipeg. "A lot of the people we work with may not have family in the city, and it can be a lonely time of year if they've lost loved ones and friends," said Michelle Ranville, manager of community services for Age & Opportunity.
"Some of the people we've visited in past years were the only people they saw over the holidays and you know, they told us, 'This is the only gift I'm getting this year.'
"You can get quite emotional, but it feels good," she said.
The Be a Santa to a Senior program is just one of 20 Age & Opportunity runs. This year, the United Way contributed more than $409,000 to the agency, money that helps run elder abuse, hoarding, safety and counselling programs, as well as a four seniors centres across the city.
"Everything we do is about community and reaching out to people, particularly people who are isolated and letting them know what the resources are and bringing services to them," Ranville said.
The agency works with an estimated 40,000 clients each year, she said. That means adapting to the growing and changing needs of their clientele. "A lot of the programs we start are from clients telling us what they need," said Ranville.
