Each year, the Senior Wish Association teams up with local schools to spread some holiday cheer to the residents of Innisfil's Sandycove Acres.
Linda Lewer and Linda Moyles — aka the “Two Lindas” — are the masterminds behind the team-up where they have students make cards and write letters for the seniors to show them how much the community appreciates them.
The cards and letters are delivered on Christmas Eve, along with gifts and a turkey dinner.
“We have seniors meet us at the door with tears in their eyes because they have nothing at Christmas time, no family to be around and they’re all alone,” says Lewer as she fights back tears. “It means more to me to do this than to have Christmas myself because we’re spreading it to people who don’t get it.”
Having worked in Sandycove for 30 years as a personal support worker, Lewers has seen firsthand the struggles seniors go through.
“I know how some of them manage from month to month to stay in their own homes,” she says. “It’s hard, so if we can bring them a little happiness around Christmas time, we’re more than happy to do it.”
Lewer’s and Moyles’ have been doing this for the past six years with the support of Parkbridge, the owners of Sandycove.
“They had a lighting of the Christmas tree last night and they took donations for us, all the money that we raise stays in Sandycove, it doesn’t leave the park,” said Lewers.
The “Two Lindas" were recently joined by Stephanie Nunes of Parkbridge and Sandycove manager Stephen Parsons at Holy Cross Catholic School in Innisfil to pick up some of the cards and letters.
“Bridging the gap between the old and the young is our mandate,” says Lewers. “It’s great and wonderful to see (the students excitement as they pick up the cards). They’re learning it’s important to give to other people.”
