An overflow in generosity stuffs stockings

Date: 12/15/2008

WILBRAHAM By adding one more stocking to their list of stockings to fill this holiday season, local citizens helped provide needy seniors with joy and happiness. Stockings filled with gift cards and small necessities were dropped off at the Orchard Valley at Wilbraham senior living community located at 2387 Boston Rd. through Dec. 11.

The community's goal is to deliver 150 stockings to local Councils on Aging in Ludlow, Wilbraham, Palmer, Monson and Ware, who in turn will deliver the stockings to needy seniors in those communities.

Recommended value of each stocking is around $30 and recommended items to include in stockings were gift credit cards, local grocery store 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, disposable cameras, pot holders, candy, lottery tickets, sugar-free items for diabetics and Sudoku/crossword/word search puzzle books.

"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 Elena Leon, director of community relations at Orchard Valley at Wilbraham.

The residents at Orchard Valley put together one dozen stockings themselves.

"This outpouring of support shows people are still thinking of us [the senior community]," Marianne Power, social services coordinator of the Wilbraham Council on Aging, said.

The stockings will be delivered to the local Councils on Aging on Dec. 17, Leon said.