Covenant Village fills shoe boxes for kids
The Christmas spirit has arrived early to Covenant Village of Northbrook, a faith-based, nonprofit, continuing care retirement community administered by Covenant Retirement Communities.
The senior living retirement community teamed up with Samaritan's Purse for Operation Christmas Child. This annual program works with local churches and ministry programs to deliver shoe box gifts filled with a variety of donated items, including small toys, stuffed animals, hats and games, to more than 11 million children in 150 countries, according to the Samaritan's Purse website.
Covenant Village of Northbrook resident Paul Peterson, 79, has coordinated the event for the last three years, working between local church groups and the senior living community.
"I am classified at Samaritan's Purse as a year-round volunteer, so I encourage people to participate," Peterson says. "We had a container here at the village where people could drop off toiletries and toys that could be included in a shoe box."
According to Peterson, independent living residents, as well as assisted living residents, all take part in the chaotic Christmas wrapping fun in November. For this year's event, about 50 volunteers filled and then wrapped 102 shoe boxes, beating last year's shoe box total of 99.
"The residents at Covenant Village of Northbrook are so generous with their time, especially around the holidays," says Neil Warnygora, executive director. "The Operation Christmas Child event is a great example of how residents at different health care levels can all participate in community outreach."
Other volunteering efforts residents participate in during the holiday season include the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and a local food pantry.
To find out more information about Covenant Village of Northbrook, visit www.covenantnorthbrook.org or call (877) 816-5668.