Seniors Secret Service

Christmas Cheer

The Christmas Cheer program connects over 6500 isolated or lonely seniors with Secret Santas.

We have strong relationships with seniors’ groups, housing facilities, outreach programs and health care providers.  These partner agencies eagerly participate in the program, providing anonymous personal profiles of isolated seniors. The profiles include the senior’s first name, age, gender, hobbies, needs and preferences.  Once we receive the profiles, we match the senior with a volunteer Secret Santa from the community.

How does the program work?

Each Secret Santa shops for a personalized gift for “their” senior, using the profile provided by our partner agencies.  This can include anything from toiletry items and slippers to specialized clothing and grocery store gift cards.  As some seniors live independently and are able to have pets, the Secret Santa will often include something for the pet as well.  For more mobile seniors, tickets to sporting activities or a small gift card to Tim Horton’s are also very well received. This type of gift provides the opportunity for the senior to get out and participate in the larger community.

For many of our seniors these gifts are important items they would not normally receive.   Things like new clothing, undergarments and toiletry items are often difficult for seniors with mobility issues or cognitive difficulties to come by on their own. It is not always a case of them not being able to financially afford these items (although this can be true as well) it is often simply a logistical issue – they have no one who can go to the store and purchase these items for them.

For many, being a Secret Santa is a family activity. Many will call and say they are doing this in honour of a grandparent they have lost; others wonder if perhaps they too may need this service in the future. It seems that most everyone is touched by the thought of isolated seniors and are motivated to do whatever possible to let them know they are not forgotten.

So – how can you help?

Sign up to be a Secret Santa for an isolated senior and/or tell all your friends about Seniors Secret Service!  We are always looking for new Secret Santas and need your help to get the word out to people.

Already Registered?

The tentative timeline will be as follows:

• Distribution of senior profiles and packages to Secret Santas – begins late October  – process takes at least 2 weeks!

• Drop off weekend will be Friday Nov 22, Saturday Nov 23 and Sunday Nov 24 8am to 6pm each day. 27th. Drop off locations will all be outdoors. Trucks will be parked in the parking lots of Calgary Police Service offices from 8am till 6pm.

• Gift sort – Early December.

• Volunteers are always needed for the gift drop and gift sort days.  Please email coordinator@seniorssecretservice.com for more information.  If  you have previously volunteered you will receive a sign up email early in November.

Gift Ideas

Food and Games

• Treats: small boxes of chocolates, candy, cookies, etc. 

• Diabetic treats/gluten-free treats

• Herbal Tea/ Individual instant coffee serving gift sets 

• Large print puzzle books 

• Jigsaw puzzles – Under 500 pieces are best

• Herbal Tea/ Individual instant coffee serving gift sets

Clothing

• Nighties for ladies – a variety of lengths

• Pj pants and 2-piece pj sets – men and ladies 

• Button-up casual blouses for ladies or button-up casual shirts for men 

• T-shirts of all sizes for men and women – short or long-sleeve  

• Sweaters of all sizes for men or ladies, cardigan or pull-on 

• Various sizes of men’s and ladies underwear.   

• Bathrobes – all sizes

• Ball caps with sports team’s logo  

Household Items

• All types of toiletry items for men and women – High demand items! 

• Toiletry gift sets – High-demand items!

• Small household/kitchen gadgets and linens 

• Sheet sets of various sizes from twin to queen 

• Fuzzy Blankets – please remember these are going into a small box.

• Go cups with no-spill lid 

• Calendars 

• Notebooks/ journals 

• Sport magazines 

Other

• New handmade items are also appreciated for those who are crafty or knit

• Transit tickets

• Small Christmas ornaments

• Treats/toys for dogs and cats 

• Small and easy-to-operate CD players.

• DVDs – Comedy and Western seem to be popular choices   

• Music Cds

• Gift cards for Walmart or The Bay – these are handy to have in case we need to purchase clothing   

• Tim Horton’s or Starbucks gift cards

• Chapters gift cards, London Drugs gift cards fast food gift cards, grocery store gift cards- High demand items!    

• Anything with Calgary Flames/Stampeders/Roughnecks/Blue Jays on it