A Christmas labour of love started by a former Lacombe resident will continue its giving ways without the program creator.

For 3 years Brandy Forgeron reached out to the community for donations and assembled Christmas gifts for seniors in long term care at the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre under the Adopt a Grandparent program.

She's since moved away, but Wendy Buyar has stepped in to ensure the program continues, she says the goal is simple, to ensure everyone is touched with some holiday spirit.

“We have this small population in Lacombe that often gets forgotten, up to 75 senior citizens in the Lacombe Hospital and Care Centre at Christmas time that are neglected by family members or just by circumstance. So that’s what it’s about, reaching out to this group that’s maybe not seen as much as they should be”.

Buyar is seeking donations for gift bags which Santa will deliver to the seniors; she explains what’s on their wish list for the residents.

“Nail clippers are a really high desired item, the socks with the rubber grips, nail files, denture tabs are a big need, combs, teddy bears surprising enough are a huge thing for senior citizens, water bottles, blankets, anything that you think would work probably will. The only thing we ask specifically not to have is slippers and food”.

You're asked to mark your gift bag donation to Grandma or Grandpa.

A number of collections are planned during Light Up the Night festivities, donations will be accepted during the Christmas markets happening at the LMC tomorrow night (Nov 23rd) from 5-10 and Friday (Nov 24th) from 9-2 in the County Room, and again at the Christmas craft fair on Saturday (Nov 25th) at the LMC from 10-4 in the main hall.

Community Fit Physical Therapy Clinic and Lacombe Storage are also drop off points until December 1st.