Baskets gifted to seniors help spread holiday cheer

During this current pandemic, it is a challenging time for residents to make it feel like the holiday season.

For the seniors here in Shafter, there is a group of volunteers that care enough to give them a holiday season to remember, no matter the circumstances.

Headed up by the ladies at the Shafter Women's Club, a contingent of residents gathered at the Valley Bible Church recently and put together a bunch of gift baskets that is distributed to the Carrington House in Shafter, Shafter's Golden Living Center and the Walker Senior Center. The event is called Christmas for Seniors, and they let the seniors know that they are in their hearts and minds this holiday season.

The packages included handmade quilts, as well as toiletries and essentials.

With the guidelines in place, it was not possible to gather with the seniors at the different locations, but the seniors were still presented with the care packages by staff after being delivered to the sites by the volunteers.

"There was such an outpouring of support for this cause, making it such a huge success," said Barbara Gladden, one of the directors of the event, representing the Shafter Women's Club.

"We are blessed to have such a caring community, while even in this current situation, we can let our seniors know that there are plenty of people who care."