Shrewsbury – By adding one more stocking to their list of stockings to fill this holiday season, local citizens can provide needy seniors with joy and happiness. Stockings filled with goodies, gift cards, and small necessities can be dropped off at the Shrewsbury Crossings senior living community, located at 311 Main St. in Shrewsbury, anytime through Saturday, Dec. 15.
The community's goal is to deliver 100 or more stockings to local Councils on Aging and Meals on Wheels programs, which, in turn, will deliver the stockings to needy seniors in our local communities. Shrewsbury Crossings will host Holiday Mixer Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 4 to 6 p.m., to wrap up the drive (last minute donations will be accepted through Dec. 15). Stocking donations will be received and representatives from local Councils on Aging will be in attendance. All of those who donate stockings will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card.
Recommended value for items is around $25, and recommended items to include local grocery store or pharmacy gift cards, eyeglass repair kits, lens cleaner/lens wipes, light-up magnifying glasses, flashlights, batteries, nightlights, nail clippers, nail file boards, pocket tissues, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand lotion, stationery/note cards, greeting card assortments, stamps, pot holders, candy, lottery tickets, sugar-free items for diabetics and Sudoku/crossword/word search puzzle books. However, there is no minimum or maximum limit on monetary value or what can be included.
“The value's not a matter – what matters are the number of helping hands and the satisfaction of knowing that one has helped a senior in need this holiday season,” said Kelly Marcimo, director of community relations at Shrewsbury Crossings. “There are many programs in the area to help support children and families in need, but often our seniors who are frail with limited resources are forgotten. In some cases, the donated stocking may be the only holiday gift received.”
Shrewsbury Crossings offers assisted living and the Harbor Program of care for those with Alzheimer's disease and other memory impairments. The community is operated by Benchmark Senior Living, based in Wellesley. Benchmark is the largest privately held provider of senior living services in the Northeast and is committed to setting the standard of excellence in senior housing. The company develops, owns and manages an array of senior living communities which offer independent living, assisted living, and specialized assisted living for the memory impaired. Benchmark operates 45 communities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Maine. Visit Benchmark at www.benchmarkseniorliving.com.
