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GROUP EFFORT: Volunteers pack gift bags for local nursing homes

News Courier - 12/25/2021

Dec. 24—It all started with a visit to a local nursing home around Christmas a few years ago. Sgt. Katrina Flanagan with Athens Police Department ran a call to a local establishment.

The halls were full of Christmas decorations — Santa Claus, elves and the like — but no people.

"It was all decorated up, but no one was visiting," Flanagan said. "The nurses were trying their best. I talked to the staff and asked what I could do to help. They said bring in simple gifts."

And thus, the Facebook group Gifts for the Elderly was born in 2018. Flanagan asked for donations from local businesses and individuals in the hopes of putting together 50 gift bags for nursing home residents that first year.

The group received enough donations to fill 125, and Flanagan said the program has grown each year since.

This year, Flanagan and a large group of volunteers made up of friends, family and others put together 452 bags using an assembly line at Friendship United Methodist Church, which offered up space to hold the endeavor.

Each bag held 10 items, things like blankets, lotion, hairbrushes, puzzle books, fuzzy socks, tissues and playing cards. The bags also held bibles this year provided by Gideons International.

"Every gift has a Christmas card in it so they know someone thought about them this year," Flanagan said.

Much like the inaugural effort, this year's program exceeded expectations. Each bag costs $15 to sponsor, and the goal for 2021 was to put together 500 bags. Flanagan said Gifts for the Elderly received enough donations to sponsor 700 bags.

Because of this, the group was able to put together 10 bags filled with more specific items for the local Department of Human Resources branch. The rest of the 452 bags put together Thursday morning went to nursing homes throughout Limestone County and Ardmore, Tennessee.

"This is my Christmas," Flanagan said. "I have so many kids here helping that help every year. I have friends, family and people I've never met that have become close friends who help me every year. It's the best feeling in the world, and it's so much funs. I am blessed to be able to do this — this is what Christmas is all about."

Anyone who would like to donate to the Gifts for the Elderly effort can contact Flanagan through the group's Facebook page. She said the group is working on putting together items for the elderly on holidays other than Christmas, like Valentine's Day and Easter.

"The nursing homes need help throughout the year," Flanagan said. "We get together as a group, which is now over 500 members strong, and make sure we take care of them. None of this can be done without everyone's help, and not for donations of money and time. Seeing everyone working together really renews your hope in people, when they show up and show out like they did today. Athens is a wonderful community, and I'm lucky to serve them."

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