BARRHEAD - Jubilee Manor, Golden Crest and Pembina Court residents received an early Christmas present.
On Dec. 15, Barrhead Home Hardware owner Dave Sawatzky and staff members Greg Larson and Cheri Webb delivered 50 Christmas dinners to seniors living in the Barrhead and District Social Housing Association residences.
Laura's Steak and Pizza provided the Christmas dinners with all the trimmings.
Sawatzky said he started delivering the meals to the senior residences four years ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic, knowing there would be residents in some of BHDHA's senior residences, specifically those in BDSHA's facilities that do not provide meal service.
"It is unlikely that the residents would want to or be able to cook a Christmas dinner for themselves, so we thought we, as a store, decided to arrange to deliver such a meal. Everyone should be able to have a Christmas dinner. It just makes the holiday a little brighter," he said.
BDSHA activity manager Shelley Oswald said the dinner, which has become a pre-Christmas tradition, has become something the residents look forward to.
"It's a wonderful gesture to do at Christmas. To have dinner brought to all our folks," she said.
Mary Munro and Rose Nutt, among the longest-tenured Pembina Court residents, agreed.
"On behalf of all the residents, we want to thank Home Hardware and all Santa's elves for continuing to bring us this delicious Christmas dinner," Nutt said.
The pair said residents especially appreciated the gesture during the pandemic, noting many residents were hesitant, even when most of the restrictions to go out and have Christmas dinner with their friends and families.
"It means a lot of us residents," Munro added. "It shows us that we are still remembered and not forgotten, and that's a nice feeling to have, especially around the holidays. It gives us that Christmas cheer."
