With so many seniors feeling remoted and depressed in the course of the pandemic, a McHenry County outreach group is organizing a number of “Adopt A Grandparent” applications, together with a Valentine’s Day occasion, to assist enhance seniors’ psychological well being.

“With COVID it has made everything worse for people, especially with the elderly, and you know, they feel more isolated,” stated Beverly Miles, a resident at Gable Point, a senior housing facility in Crystal Lake run by Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

Sharon Saunders, one other resident, will not be solely battling the isolation, but in addition ovarian most cancers.

“Sometimes it is really hard to accept the loneliness,” Saunders stated.

Like so many others, Saunders doesn’t have any family who reside close by.

“I’d say 80% of what we were able to find, their families are either out of state or they just don’t have any family anymore. So there is no one to support them and just remind them like hey, you matter, like, I see you,” stated Jacci Richards, director of Fisher Outreach Group, Inc., a non-profit that does neighborhood fundraising in McHenry County.

Fisher Outreach Group has supported many causes over time, however in 2020, Richards turned her consideration to serving to seniors, after seeing a social media submit from a neighborhood nursing dwelling that stated residents had been depressed and remoted in the course of the coronavirus lockdown.

Richards first organized an “Adopt a Grandparent” vacation program, fulfilling seniors vacation want lists. That has since expanded into a number of occasions a yr, together with Valentine’s Day.

“We’ve got six different facilities of low income seniors, over 500 seniors, that we will be putting together goodie bags for,” Richards stated.

Currently, Richards has a few quarter of the donations she must fill goodie luggage with numerous gadgets that may be purchased off of on-line want lists at Amazon, Target and Walmart. Gifts embrace crossword puzzle and coloring books, and toiletry gadgets, like cleaning soap and physique wash.

They’re additionally in want of a hand-crafted card to enter every goodie bag, which frequently is the spotlight of every present.

“Oh my gosh, I couldn’t even believe that last year when I got Valentine’s cards and Valentine’s gifts? I mean, I don’t get (gifts like) that anymore,” stated Bonnie Castellonas, a senior residing in Gable Point who obtained a Valentine’s goodie bag final yr.

It’s the enhance that resident Beverly Miles stated all seniors, not simply her neighbors, might use proper now.

“It’s like a dream come true for a lot of people. I’m sure it’s a dream come true,” Miles stated.

“It makes you feel like you matter. It makes you feel special. You know, you’re not invisible, because seniors get to be of the invisible generation and then the older they get, they disappear. A lot of people have said that. I feel that. I know my sister feels that,” stated Anita Thompson, additionally a resident at Gable Point.

“I don’t want to cry, you know, but it’s just wonderful to have a group like that, you know, that will help you out or do things for you,” Castellonas stated.

If you or a local people group desires to make handmade playing cards for the “Adopt A Grandparent” Valentine’s program, you possibly can ship them to:

Fisher Outreach Group, Inc.

8600 US Hwy 14, Suite 106A, Crystal Lake, IL 60012

You may also discover the goodie bag want lists by clicking here.