“Santa’s Giving Tree” for Area Seniors

Julie Sanders and Laura Folland saw a need this holiday season: residents at area nursing facilities who might not have families nearby to celebrate with them. To help, they have set up a “Santa’s Giving Tree” inside Red Bud Dispensary. “So many of our elderly are forgotten about or don’t have family nearby,” Folland said. “We wanted to make sure they got something.”

Sanders and Folland reached out to staff at Gregston’s Nursing and Rehab and West Wing Assisted Living to help identify residents who have Christmas wishes, but whose families are not present to grant them. The facility staff then helped the residents make their wish lists to decorate the tree.

Folland said that they started with 40 or so wish lists, and approximately 15 had been picked up and returned with gifts. “The wish lists have easy-to-get items on them,” she said. “And almost every one of them asked for non-slip socks.” Gifts are to be brought back to the dispensary by December 15 so that they can arrange for delivery.

The dispensary is also collecting non-perishable food items for the Blessing Box on 5th street. “We know it can get empty quickly this time of year,” Folland said. This is the second food drive they have had, and she said both have been successful. “All we have to do is ask our customers, and they make it happen.”

One need not be a customer to contribute to the food drive or Giving Tree, and Folland said that anyone may come in to the dispensary without a medical marijuana card.