Being alone at Christmas brings its own kind of loneliness.
There is an immediate need to show the elderly that someone cares.
The staff and volunteers working with STAR Community Services are seeing it every day – older people saying they have not seen any family because of Covid, that they are afraid to travel, they need help to go shopping, and that they are feeling lonely in their home.
Covid has caused a lot of this increase of isolation along with a growing aging population.
About one in every four people who live on their own are over the age of 65, leading to increased dementia, anxiety, depression and more.
STAR is working with the Logan Central Meals on Wheels, Logan Village State School and Burrowes State School to fight social isolation of the elderly.
They’re gathering gifts for elderly people in the local area. Last year, one recipient told the volunteer that this gift was the only one she would receive.
People who want to donate can still do so with a cash donation to givenow.com.au/starsecretsanta.
Each gift is delivered by a volunteer who has a chat to the elderly recipient and lets them know that someone is thinking of them and that this gift was donated by the community.
This appeal is being held in Logan, Gold Coast, Ipswich and the Redlands. To keep it local, gifts donated in a particular area are given out in that area.
Phone 3821 6699.
