Christmas Community Outreach

The last community outreach project for 2021 focused on the elderly who suffer from severe loneliness during the festive season. Two retirement homes were identified, namely Susan Strijdom SAVF in Waverley and Lodewyk P Spies in Eersterust. The Community outreach focus group decided to make Christmas a little brighter and lighter for the elderly in these retirement homes and to also treat the administrative and medical staff as well as the caregivers who work tirelessly during the festive season to care for the elderly.

We received a huge donation from an external sponsor and our staff extended an open hand of generosity by donating soft sweets such as marshmallows, jellies and chocolates.  Each sweet packet was beautifully decorated with paper and red ribbons with a specially designed Christmas greeting card.  Even the elderly with diabetes were considered and separate sweet treats were packed for them.

On 9 December 2021, Christine Nel, one of the focus group drivers along with some staff members visited the two homes to deliver the special gifts, spend some time with the residents and staff and took some photos with our special Library marketing photo frame. Permission was granted to visit some residents in the assisted living section, adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols. It was a memorable event to witness the joy and surprise on the faces of staff and residents. Some residents could not resist their sweet treats and opened them immediately.

By doing this, the library staff truly ended 2021 the UP way.  The elderly are a very vulnerable group in our society, especially during the Christmas season when some of them are lonely and do not get visitors or gifts of appreciation. This outreach event sends a message to the elderly that they are acknowledged as the pillars of our community and that there are people who are standing with them and care about them in their twilight years.