“Don’t get me crying here, buddy,” says Dawe, when asked how receiving a Christmas card from a student at a North Vancouver school made her feel. “I’m at a seniors residence, and I was so touched that somebody took the trouble to do that, not only for me but for everybody here. I’m sure we’re not the only seniors residence in North Vancouver who received these cards.”
Dawe would be right about that.
A massive effort that involved many individuals, groups and community organizations had a singular goal this holiday season: to spread joy to those in the community who were in need of extra cheer.
One of those organizations was North Van Cares, a community group started by real-estate agent and Pemberton Heights resident Jacquie McCarnan to help locals impacted by COVID-19.
For the holidays, McCarnan and company created a Holiday Helpers initiative where more than 150 gift boxes were delivered to people in the community who had been nominated to receive one.
In addition, North Van Cares started a holiday card campaign in which they received 1,700 cards created by students and other partners that were then given out to local care homes and community organizations.
“We had an amazing – incredible really – response when we asked local schools to create cards for our gift boxes,” said McCarnan.
In total, the boxes of cards, contributed by 19 schools and programs, were delivered to nine long-term care and assisted-living facilities on the North Shore.
“The success was thanks to all the parents, teachers, librarians, and administrators who spread the word within their schools and between schools,” said Susan Fitzgerald, who led North Van Cares’ holiday card campaign.
Inglewood Care Centre in West Vancouver is among residences that benefited from the campaign.
The centre also organized its own card campaign, which saw hundreds of cards delivered over the holidays to 50 Inglewood residents without close family or friends.
The Inglewood Care Centre also received loads of cards from four North Shore churches and several schools and community programs.
“It was quite overwhelming the day we delivered the cards, in a year so full of bad and sad news, especially in care homes where so many residents have experienced loneliness because of not seeing family members,” said Ken Bell, a chaplain on Inglewood’s spiritual care team. “This was a good and happy event.”
