An Old Age home in Cape Town is getting a major boost for the festive season

Credit Senior Santa Shoebox

A charity helping the elderly living in an Old Age home in Cape Town has received a helping hand from a massive mall, just in time for Christmas.

Blue Route Mall approached the Senior Santa Shoebox with the idea of getting all their shoppers to donate items to make gift boxes for an Old Age home in the area.

The home is the Lotus River Place with 120 residents. Lotus River Place is one of the CPOA’s Welfare homes, built in the mid-1980’s. What makes the home special and unique is that they are the only Welfare home in the Cape with dedicated Alzheimer’s and Dementia wards. Both of these have their own sun lounges where residents can relax in comfortable, caring surroundings.

It is also the only home where Alzheimer’s and Dementia residents can be cared for on a state pension.

“We will be collecting items for the boxes and then on the weekends of 24 / 25 Nov and 8/9 December we will be packing and wrapping the boxes which will be delivered to the home on the 18th of December.

It is the first time a shopping mall has combined with a charity like ours. And what is lovely is that people can donate one or two items and still feel they are making a difference to some old people’s lives!”

The Senior Santa Shoebox aims to spread joy over the holiday season, in this case to the elderly. A largely forgotten sector of the community, thousands of seniors are left ignored and abandoned in homes, with little to no social contact – a situation that can often result in abuse and neglect. The Senior Santa Shoebox aims to redress this imbalance and to show the elderly that they continue to be worthy and valued.

In order to make this Christmas a special one for the residents of Lotus River Place, Blue Route Mall is encouraging all shoppers to participate in the Senior Santa Shoebox initiative by way of a small donation. From food items like juice boxes and packets of biscuits, sweets, and crisps, to toiletries like shower gel, face cloths, deodorant, soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste and brushes, and fun gifts like playing cards, lipstick, notebooks, crossword puzzles, plastic cups and mugs, scarves, and more, any and all small thoughtful gifts will be welcome.

To take part in the Senior Santa Shoebox drive, simply purchase your gifts at any time until 15 December and drop them in the donation box at the Guest Relations Desk on the first floor. Blue Route Mall’s elves will also be lending a hand during the promotion, taking selfies with shoppers on Saturday, 23 November and Saturday, 1 December for the centre’s Facebook page, and handing out branded shopping bags too. Once all donations have been collected, Santa and his elves will package the shoeboxes and deliver them to Lotus River Place on 18 December in time for their annual Christmas party – and we’re sure that the smiles will be something to see!

Christmas is the season of giving, and there’s no greater gift than to spread joy and hope over the holidays, and every day. Join us this year in doing just that, and be a Santa to a senior this Christmas with Blue Route Mall.