OLLI@CCU donates to seniors in need

Many older adults in Horry and Georgetown counties, the two counties that the CCU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute primarily serves, cannot afford basic necessities (such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, warm clothes, prescriptions, blankets and body wash) let alone wants (for example, sugar-free cookies, candy, puzzles or coloring books). These people probably would not receive a gift for a December holiday.

This fall, OLLI@CCU has been supporting Home Instead's efforts at providing gifts for local senior citizens by participating in the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program. OLLI students took a hangtag ornament from one of the OLLI centers’ trees which had a senior’s name as well as the gift desired and brought the unwrapped gift and hangtag to either the Coastal Science Center, Litchfield Education Center or the Myrtle Beach Education Center. Many students bought “a little something extra for my senior.” They also bought supplementary gifts to be donated for other seniors who may be in need. In addition, many OLLI students took multiple hangtags.

The OLLI students, who are “experienced adults,” said time and time again how much they appreciated doing something for “people our own ages.” “I cannot believe how little my seniors asked for” said one OLLI student. Another chimed in with “I realize how blessed I am when I saw what these seniors wanted.”

In mid-December, there will be a huge “wrapping party” for these gifts. Local elementary school children take part in a civic project and decorate bags to be used as the wraps for the presents. People who have donated gifts, the Home Instead staff, and others take part in wrapping the gifts. Volunteers, under the direction of the Home Instead staff, will distribute the gifts to the seniors.