Kevin Boedeker, 17, was among Northrop honor students who wrapped presents for seniors Tuesday at the Coffee Café on East State Boulevard. The gifts came courtesy of “giving trees” at local CVS Pharmacies, part of a program organized by Home Instead Inc., which provides in-home care for seniors.
FORT WAYNE, INDIANA (The News Sentinel), December 23, 2004:
Christmas isn’t just for the young, it turns out. But children are still a big part of the holiday, especially if fate has them spending it in a hospital bed instead of at home.
Several local businesses, a non-profit group and many anonymous donors made those points clear this week as they helped provide presents not only for the children spending Christmas in the pediatric-care wing of Lutheran Hospital, but also to seniors in local nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.
Members of the Circle of Friends, a nonprofit group who see their mission as helping others on a short-term basis, picked up the effort to make sure children at Lutheran had gifts by collecting donations through General Federal Credit Union.
The Santa Express, as the program is known, provides toys and gifts to children who must spend the holidays in the hospital.
On the other end of the spectrum, Home Instead Senior Care, a local business that operates a program of in-home care for seniors, set up “giving trees” at local CVS pharmacies before the holiday.
Patrons were asked to buy the gifts requested, and Home Instead workers, along with representatives of CVS and the Northrop High School National Honor Society, gathered Tuesday to wrap the presents.
Home Instead owner Jim Sullivan said response to the giving trees was overwhelming.
“We had limited time to get the word out about this year’s program, and we were quite surprised by the hundreds of gifts that were purchased,” he said.
In addition to the pharmacy, the honor students and Home Instead, Nisco Christmas Paradise, the Coffee Café and Fast Print Inc. also contributed time, space and materials to the senior-gift program.
Give a holiday gift The Home Instead gift program for seniors has ended for the season, but the Circle of Friends is accepting donations for gifts to be given to children in Lutheran Hospital’s pediatrics wing. Contributions, to the attention of vice president David Thieme, can be dropped off at General Federal Credit Union offices at 6601 Mutual Drive, 5020 Riviera Court or 6401 W. Jefferson Blvd. They are also being accepted at the Tobacco Stop, 6214 Lima Road.
By Aaron Suozzi The News-Sentinel
© 2004 News Sentinel. http://www.fortwayne.com/)
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