Homebound Seniors Get Healthy Holiday Surprise from Mecklenburg County Senior Nutrition

While families and friends are celebrating the holidays, it can be a tough time for senior citizens who can’t get out to enjoy the season. That is why Mecklenburg County’s Senior Citizens Nutrition Program organized the packing and delivery of holiday gift bags for clients who are homebound.

Several dozen volunteers from across the community joined Mecklenburg County staff to pack about 1,250 gift bags. Each bag contains fresh apples and oranges, hot chocolate, a candy cane treat, and a small activity packet to help engage the mind.

Weeping Willow AME Zion Church in east Charlotte hosted the packing event in its gymnasium. Once completed, all 1,250 bags were loaded onto Mecklenburg County vans for delivery to clients during the week of Dec. 9.

“The gift bags demonstrate to our seniors that they are all special and someone is thinking about them during this holiday period” says Kajal Patel, program manager. “Our Senior Citizens Nutrition Program helps reduce food insecurity by providing healthy meals and the opportunity to socialize to residents who are 60 or older. The program includes our congregate meal services, home delivery, and our mobile market.”

Volunteers turned out from several organizations to help assemble the gift bags, including Bank of America, Atrium Health, CenterWell Senior Primary Care, AARP, Frankie Mae Foundation, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Psi Mu Zeta Chapter in Charlotte.