The Pleasant Senior center is collecting Easter baskets for local senior citizens, but they won’t be filled with the traditional candy and plastic eggs. The Self-Care Senior Easter Baskets will be filled with things like toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, and other products that are a luxury item for many seniors living on a fixed income.
The Senior Center is taking donations from now through March 15 and items can be dropped off to the Center at 1480 Lay St. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Pleasant Senior Center Director Brandie Pettis said in an email that “When a person has to choose between getting their medications this month or eating, it is heartbreaking. Some seniors go without major necessities because the money is just not there. We so often take for granted how blessed we are to be able to have simple items like, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, or even deodorant—items that some of these seniors go without because of the cost. These baskets are filled with items that may help a senior not have to choose what to go without this month. To see the joy, and sometimes a relief is an overwhelming feeling that is indescribable. This is not a benefit to our seniors, this is a blessing, and they all love receiving them.”
Items in the baskets could include soaps, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, sponges, loofahs, travel size toiletries, shaving cream, razors, perfume or body spray, toothpaste, toilet paper, large print puzzles, books, or games, room freshener, blankets (heated blankets are a favorite), socks, gloves and much more.
“The idea of the Self-Care Senior Easter Basket is to give some relief to our local seniors. To make the upcoming financial choices a little less stressful in hopes that our Seniors will know that our community see’s the daily struggles and that we want to rally around them, that people care. That they can see the light in a dark time. To prevent isolation, to make sure they are getting other needs met like their health care and medication needs,” said Pettis last year.
During the holiday season, generosity is always abundant, but donation and such usually slows down through the spring and summer. Many seniors, especially those that are homebound, are prone to depression, disabilities and other things that can keep them feeling isolated at home. These baskets will not only help out seniors financially, but will also let them know that the community is thinking about them.
Pettis said that last year, the Senior Center was able to give away 125 baskets to seniors in the community. This year, Pettis is hoping to get 150 baskets donated and handed out even though “[Her] dream would be every senior citizen in Humboldt County (receive a basket).
There are approximately 500 seniors in the community that utilize the Center’s home delivery meal service, so it could be a major blessing for any of them.
Pettis said last year that “Our seniors are our foundation. We do not want to see our seniors homeless, hungry, or medically fragile. Giving is all we can do to keep them safe, and able to have the quality of life they so desperately deserve. By helping, you are helping a senior age in place, here in their hometown.”