[0:01] [Music] [0:02] my name is John Schlice I'm the [0:04] coordinator for Gifts for Seniors I've [0:06] been here roughly three years Gifts for [0:08] Seniors has been around for 31 years [0:10] We're in the 10ount metro area providing [0:12] basic needs and other resources in the [0:15] senior [0:18] community I'm um Jordue and I'm the [0:22] adult senior programs coordinator at [0:24] Gladstone Community Education Center And [0:27] back in uh December 2023 I was just um [0:31] looking online and found uh your website [0:36] and uh Carolyn Jeter put me in contact [0:38] with you and then you sent me all the [0:40] forms to get it started and uh the [0:43] previous weekend I was at Menard's and I [0:45] remember seeing the blue barrels with [0:47] that logo and oh that's that's you know [0:50] that's what they're doing So these are [0:52] the barrels that go out throughout the [0:55] uh 10 county metro area and most of the [0:58] barrels that we have over a hundred of [1:00] them is where Jordy had found at [1:02] Hetmanards And so this is where the [1:04] donations come into they go into the [1:06] barrel Uh we get a phone call saying the [1:08] barrel is full We have volunteers that [1:10] go and pick up the items from the barrel [1:12] and then bring them in Then we get them [1:13] back in the shelf so we can continue the [1:15] shopping for the seniors So it was the [1:17] on the holiday gift wish list that was [1:19] just like a list of gifts and then uh [1:21] the seniors could uh choose a first [1:24] choice and a second choice and I [1:26] remember that actually one of our [1:28] seniors uh was just telling me that her [1:30] coffee maker broke down and then she saw [1:34] that on the list there was like a small [1:36] appliances but she said I will never I'm [1:39] never going to get a coffee maker you [1:40] know it's way too big of a gift and and [1:44] I so I encourage her to actually put [1:46] this as a first choice and put something [1:47] else as a second choice And then uh when [1:50] she received the gift and opened it and [1:53] found out that she actually was a coffee [1:55] maker she really burst into tears Those [1:57] are the testimonies that we like to hear [2:00] because those are moments that we can [2:02] share and everybody else can share And [2:04] that's what brings everyone together cuz [2:06] it only makes one person to make a [2:08] difference and make everything a much [2:09] better situation [2:11] [Music] [2:16] So so for the gift bags we we do spring [2:20] and then we do a fall which is generally [2:22] themed with a fall safety bag as well [2:25] just a different type of a bag And then [2:26] we have a holiday bag that that we do [2:30] And that's pretty much uh devoted more [2:33] towards you know the Meals on Wheels [2:36] program just because of what it would [2:38] take to get the information we would [2:40] need for you know for shopping and [2:43] things of that nature But this works It [2:45] makes it easy for them to distribute and [2:47] then we're by having this we're able to [2:49] reach out to more people where otherwise [2:51] we wouldn't have that And plus as well [2:53] as getting the gift the meals on wheels [2:55] it's just bringing another social visit [2:58] you know to the seniors So last year uh [3:00] for our holiday program for which we're [3:02] most known is November and December and [3:04] we did over 8,000 gifts Some of these [3:08] seniors it might be the only time they [3:10] would even get a gift from from anybody [3:12] And that that is you know those are the [3:14] things that we hear This is the only [3:16] gift that I've you know that I received [3:18] this year Every gift that leaves our [3:20] office has a personal card a personal [3:22] note in it and that makes a big [3:24] difference [3:25] I just just wanted to read a note that [3:27] we received back in August [3:29] 2024 Uh dear gift for seniors I sure [3:34] enjoy surprises Your kindness in [3:36] gathering gifts for us at the Gladstone [3:38] Community Education Center is so [3:41] appreciated Incredible that you are able [3:44] to match gifts to our interest You are [3:48] generous in giving time to collect all [3:50] of the items Please know it brought me [3:53] smiles Thank you God bless you That's [3:56] what it's all about