In previous years, vulnerable Richmond seniors have been treated to a hot Christmas meal at the seniors centre on Dec. 24.
But, like everything else this year, this holiday tradition won’t be happening, so instead volunteers will be delivering turkey dinners to 100 seniors around Richmond.
These meals will be accompanied by cards – some of them bilingual - made by Richmond students.
Volunteers will be at the seniors centre at 8 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 24 and by 10 a.m. they will be making the rounds, delivering the meals.
Staff from the centre have been calling seniors and, in that way, they’ve been able to identify who is isolated and needing something extra around Christmas.
Jim Kojima, also a board member, said the most important thing for seniors is socialization, but in-person socializations has been severely curtailed during the pandemic. So, using a phone to reach out to those living by themselves has become crucial.
Kojima said he’s been calling his friends in their 80s, checking up on them and it’s clear they appreciate someone reaching out, often talking for long periods of time.
Kojima said he’s grateful the number of COVID-19 cases in Richmond is relatively low, and he chalks that up to the high Asian population and their willingness to wear masks.
“You don’t have to convince them to wear masks,” he said.
Upcoming Minoru Seniors Society board member Thea Au said this year people seem to be kinder and more generous.
The senior society board members pointed out the Christmas meal wouldn’t have been possible without sponsors, including the Steveston and Richmond Rotary Clubs, White Spot, Coast Capital Savings, Canadian Fishing Company and Save-On Foods.
“It’s the generosity of our sponsors that really makes a difference,” said the society’s president Kathleen Holmes.
This includes an out-of-the-blue donation of a $500 gift certificate from FreshCo, she added.
Plans for 2021 at the seniors centre are going to depend on Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Holmes said, but she is hopeful they will be able to have more in-person, social programming in the new year, and these talks have already started.
“(VCH) is trying to keep us safe, and I’m thankful for that,” Holmes said.
The new seniors centre at the Minoru Centre for Active Living hadn’t been open for a year before the pandemic hit.
Because seniors are especially vulnerable to COVID-19, there has been no in-person programming at the centre since then and the Minor Seniors Society board of directors is meeting via Zoom.
Currently, only the cafeteria is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for takeout meals - $7.35 per meal for any age – but Holmes said they’re trying to get some seating opened up, with safety measures like plexiglass, so seniors can enjoy their meals at the centre.
They are selling about $550 in meals every day, and board member Barry Gordon said some people come every day to pick up a meal.
“That’s the type of support we appreciate,” he said.
Other plans, like opening up a bistro for patrons of the aquatic and fitness centres, have been put on hold until the end of the pandemic.
