RUMFORD- As you’re running around town gathering your last minute Christmas goodies, you may just see Kelly Deroche and Melinda Woods with packages galore, making their last minute rounds to the seniors who took part in the inaugural Senior Secret Santa Project.

What began as a call out by Deroche to help bring a little Christmas cheer to those elders who don’t necessarily have family nearby or are living by themselves in their homes, took on a life of its’ own over the last couple of weeks.

“This isn’t exactly how I thought it would be,” noted Deroche. “I had a lot of people asking if their loved ones could be apart of the project even though they weren’t going to be alone. I figured, why not. In the great scheme of things we just want to spread Christmas cheer and let our elders know we care.”

So, over the last couple weeks, friends and relatives signed their senior family members up for the secret santa project to bring a little added cheer to their holiday. The little tree in Kreckel’s Law Office became inundated with more than 40 tags to be adopted by secret santas.

On Friday, there were only a couple left, so Melissa Oldham of Peru, knew she needed to get in and choose one before they were all gone.

“My mom and I were working at the salon one day and this sweet little lady came in and asked if she could get warm. We had never seen her before. After she got warm my mom gave her a ride home and I knew I needed to do something for her. So, I had a specific lady in mind when I went to the tree.”

If you would like to sign an elder up for next Christmas, or you would like to be added to the list of secret santas, please be sure to contact Kelly Deroche at 357.5530 or Melinda Woods at 418.4205.
Gift someone a smile this Christmas, it may just be the greatest one they receive.

 

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