Don't forget about lonely elderly people in your neighbourhood this Christmas

5*****.

Great Reminder.

Green for you, OP.

We are singing at the nursing home and giving out candy and lap blankets.

Good morning and Merry Christmas everyone!

Since my husband passed in June of 2015 I have spent EVERY Christmas alone as we had no family and we also kept to ourselves. I am 64 years old and it can be the loneliest time of the year for many seniors. I am also on a fixed income as my health has been catching up with me this year. Osteoporosis, blown & bulging disc in my spine and failing knee replacements.

But, the reason I'm writing this post, is I want to share something on just how blessed I was this week. It is something my late husband and I did in the past. I use to drive a semi truck for 14 years and my husband was also a truck driver who passed on the road in 2015.
Well, we always had a tradition that I have not done since he passed. On Christmas day, we always cooked a LARGE Christmas meal (approx 50 meals) and any driver that was sitting at the truckstop on Christmas day, we handed them a homemade meal. And I have decided that this year, I want to do this again just to pass the day!
This week, I approached the manager at my local truckstop just to make sure what I was doing would be okay. Told him why and he actually teared up. He pulled $20 out of his wallet and told me to go buy my turkey. A driver that was behind me overheard my convo and he handed me $20 and told me to go buy a Ham.
Okay, now I have my turkey and ham and needing to pick up the rest of the supplies. I went to my local super Wal-mart and the manager in there knows me by name. Her husband is also a driver. We visited for a bit and she asked me if what I had in my buggy was for the drivers. Yes! except for some milk and coffee creamer, but had to pick up a couple more items. I go to checkout, and the manager came over to ring up my purchases. Total $88.08....She personally pulled out her credit card and PAID for the rest of the drivers meals.
I am now estimating I have enough food to put together for the drivers of maybe 50 meals. Have never done this much cooking by myself and figured the easiest way to accomplish this will be to start on Christmas eve and any driver that happens to be sitting at the truckstop on Christmas day, they will be receiving a homemade hot meal for Christmas. I personally know what it's like not to be able to make it home for Christmas when I drove. I will try to upload pics of this meal after drivers receive but this is the menu I will be providing...Ham or Turkey dinner with mashed potatoes (real...LOL!), stuffing, green bean casserole, candied yams, homemade dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and a candy cane on top!
Please everyone, like the OP said, help the elderly also have a Blessed Merry Christmas! Blessings & Hugs everyone!

May God Bless you

Get out there ladies or gents and bake them some cookies or bring em a beer!

We have a couple of widowers as neighbors and I feed them when I can.

Kid and I are going after to the nursing home, probably on the 30th...I'm waiting for the home to call me back with a date and time since the activity coordinator wants to make an activity with my daughter and the ones that want to do it. Pay back for an excellent Halloween they throw for the kids. My daughter is pretty awesome about the homes, and will go and visit and hug everyone in the halls when we go. For a 7 year old, she has a good sense of empathy...and only one lady in all the time has scared her, and that was recently.

As to the rest, I have spent my life inviting people to the house for holidays and befriending old people who don't have anyone. My poor mom had a lot of strangers sitting at her table when I was a kid, but to my parents' credit, they never told me I couldn't do it or turned anyone (or me) down when it came up.

I am not doing it this year...my elderly neighbor who was alone is in the hospital, and in ICU so taking her anything is rather moot. I doubt she would know I was there, but I go up and see her every few days, and I'll go later this evening.

Everyone should reach out to an elderly person in their neighborhood. Many are alone and they stay silent because they don't want to burden anyone else.

Invite them over to your home for dinner. If you have children, this is the best way to show them how elderly people should be treated.

Remember, if you live long enough, you'll be one, too.

oh my God that was so sad

Thank you for your touching posts.

I have an elderly side in my apartment complex. We always try to help or at least wave & say hello. The little thing mean a lot to them!

5 stars and green for the reminder to everyone! Merry Christmas to you!

Getting ready to our gift bag to our young bachelor neighbo. Christmas can be lonely and depressing for many people.

Deer God,

Bring them to my path and I will ensure they know they are loved this Christmas.

Amen,

Hammer.

Some of use aren't "lonely" at all.

In fact, I've always preferred to be on my own.

Dealing with the vast majority of "Other People" is usually stressful, and unpleasant, for me.

I AM NOT a Misanthrope.

I DO NOT "Hate" my fellow persons, at all. That said, I try to keep human interaction to a civilized minimum.

Five shiny ones for remembering the vulnerable and lonely. Bless you for this, OP!

What a beautiful gesture especially during this time of year.

My mom is 90 years old. I am taking her to Las Vegas for an over nighter. We will stay in an historic hotel and have lamb dinner tonight. Would love to cook for her except I am in process of moving. She is in Memory Care at Senior Living. I love all the residents and all the workers there!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Your pain and loneliness ebb as you do so much for others. You are a shining example of love, kindness, and the innate ability to feel what others feel. Bless you for what you are doing!

Made me cry.

5 stars and karma.

Amen

That'll likely be me someday.