Altrusa Oamaru hosted its fifth Be a Santa to a Senior initiative this month, collecting gifts for rest-home residents who usually received no presents during the festive period.
The 39 gift tags, which detailed the residents requested presents, were put on a Christmas tree at the Oamaru Pharmacy and were all gone within three-days.
Altrusa also put 10 other tags on the tree for people to buy extra items, such as toiletries and sweets. One family also a gave a large amount of gift vouchers.
Be a Santa to a Senior co-coordinator Helen Newlands said the extra tags were a great idea as each resident got three presents, rather than one.
‘‘In the past we’ve had people ask to do extras and by putting the extras on, people were able to still partake in the spirit of giving and it also made the parcels far more,’’ Mrs Newlands said.
Altrusa members took the gifts to Sandringham House, Observatory Village, Southanjer, Iona and Harbour View rest-homes, and were ‘‘blown away’’ by the Oamaru community’s support.
‘‘People are just so generous. People give far more than just what is on the tag of what people had asked for.
‘‘It’s very rewarding and the rest-homes are very grateful.’’
The idea steamed from Mrs Newlands who heard about a similar initiative in Texas when attending an Altrusa conference in the United States of America.
