Drug store chain runs 9th annual event to bring Christmas cheer to seniors

The holiday season is a time for celebration and getting together with family and friends, but for some, it can be a challenging time.

Richmond-headquartered London Drugs has been running its annual Stocking Stuffers for Seniors campaign since 2015 in an effort to bring a little extra cheer to senior citizens in care homes.

“This has been another challenging year with the economy and COVID-19 variants, but especially continues to be difficult for our seniors,” the store says. “We know the effect of this is significant and we want our seniors to know we care, and we are thinking of them.”

The chain says it partners with local care homes and charities in all communities in which it has stores. Every London Drugs store has a Christmas tree near the entrance, and on it, are tags showing the name of a senior and an item or two on their wish list.

Items on the tags range from necessities like toiletries, socks, and blankets, to treats such as chocolate, books, and art supplies.

Members of the public can pick a tag from the tree and then purchase or bring in the gift listed on it, along with the tag. London Drugs says the gifts do not have to be purchased in its stores; any new, non-wrapped gift is accepted.

Then, the store says it will deliver the gifts to the seniors directly, in local care homes.

The campaign started in 2015 with one store providing gifts to 500 inner city seniors. The next year, more stores joined in, providing gifts to over 2,000 seniors in their communities. It went chain-wide in 2017.

So far, the campaign has brought gifts to 75,000 seniors.

London Drugs says the program runs until Dec. 8 in most stores, so anyone wishing to help seniors in their communities should aim to bring something in before then.