Santa Brings Love and Gifts to Seniors in the Western Cape
Senior citizens in the Western Cape have been surprised and delighted to discover Santa Claus HAS come to visit them this year… thanks to an amazing initiative – the Senior Santa Shoebox Project. The ‘angel’ behind the project is local photographer (and regular SAPeople contributor) Angela Gorman. “It has been such a heartwarming project, and […]
Senior citizens in the Western Cape have been surprised and delighted to discover Santa Claus HAS come to visit them this year… thanks to an amazing initiative – the Senior Santa Shoebox Project.
The ‘angel’ behind the project is local photographer (and regular SAPeople contributor) Angela Gorman.
“It has been such a heartwarming project, and there have been so many divine people willing to help,” Angela told SAPeople. “The best thing about the Senior Santa Shoebox is that when someone signs up to make a box, they get given the name of a resident in a home, and so they personalise the box for them.”
Along with her daughter Ciara (16) and friends, Angela has spent the season enlisting givers through her facebook page, and visiting old age homes to meet the residents. Santa (Mike Clapp) has been “the most sincere Santa” taking time to connect with each person to whom he and the elves gave gifts.
Last week Angela and Santa’s crew did their last home. It was the hardest.
“It breaks my heart because any one of those ladies could be my mom or gran, and some had family or friends that joined them for Christmas lunch, but a lot did not,” says Angela.
“One lady, who Santa eventually sat hugging for ages, was initially overawed that Santa visited her… but then cried and cried and told him that she has two daughters in Cape Town and they don’t visit her. Not even last week for Christmas lunch. And she is so sweet and gentle.”
Angela began her shoebox project last year, aimed only at friends… but it has taken off so beautifully that next year she hopes to visit even more homes – “they certainly need the love and care”.
Her dream is that this is not just about a gift for Christmas. “I am hoping now that people have the names of their Seniors at the various old age homes, they will remember them at Easter and Mother’s Day… and maybe even do something special for their 67 Minutes…”
MORE
If you’d like to get involved, please email seniorsantashoebox@gmail.com or visit the SeniorSanta Shoebox page on Facebook.