A charity drive aiming to prioritize Edmonton’s aging population, especially around the holiday season, was out handing stockings full of presents to care facility Sparling Lodge on Thursday morning. Stocking Stuffers for Seniors has run as a charitable program for the last 11 years in Edmonton through the Operation Friendship Seniors Society (OFSS). Last month, shoppers at London Drugs locations across the city were able to buy gifts based on the personalized wishlist of a local senior. “Seniors are a lost demographic when it comes to Christmas time,” explained OFSS community relations manager Jimmy Morrison. During the months leading up to gift buying and giving, OFSS has local seniors make their wish lists. Morrison noted that many seniors were either asking for basic necessities or nothing at all unless prompted. “I have seen everything on tags, from a lady asking for a friend at Christmas to a lady asking for cans of soup in year two,” he added. “The impact of them asking for basic necessity items … is they’re asking for things that you or I maybe take for granted.” While delivering gifts on Thursday, Santa was joined by 20 to 30 “elves,” many of whom were recognizable faces from both the Edmonton Elks and Riverhawks. Riverhawks head coach Jake Lanferman has been doing Stocking Stuffers for Seniors for the last three years now, mostly with his team. “It’s something we look forward to every year … There’s so much work behind the scenes by (Morrison) and the whole team, so to be a small part of it is something we take pride in,” he said on Thursday. Sparling Lodge resident Harvey, who was receiving stocking stuffers Thursday morning, said he felt “wonderment” at the scene of gifts and local sports heroes. “All-in-all, appreciative,” he added. Morrison said the OFSS donation drive in Edmonton has gone from a goal of helping 40 low-income seniors in 2015 to supporting around 6,000 seniors across the Greater Edmonton Area. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Brandon Lynch
