An annual tradition involving the Charlotte County Seniors Resource Centre (CCSRC) and New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) aims to bring Christmas to local seniors this holiday season.
Each year, the Industrial Electrical program at the college participates in a community service day, according to instructor Aaron Collier.
“For the last couple of years, the industrial program has helped put up Christmas lights for seniors,” he said, speaking with The Courier. “We’re going to carry on with that tradition this year. We’re doing it on Dec. 4. So, there is still plenty of time to sign up.”
Collier said the program attracts students from across New Brunswick because Saint Andrews campus is the only NBCC campus offering it.
“They kind of get into the motion of going home, coming to school, and they don’t really interact with a lot of things around Saint Andrews, so that really is a good experience for them,” he said.
Collier said most setups are manageable, with safety as a top priority.
“We have different students every year, but they’re kind of used to having the students and they’re grateful,” he said. “Some of them will give them cookies and the students think [this] is really great as well.”
Emma Keech, with the CCSRC, said many participants no longer have decorations or lights because they have gone years without putting them up.
“We’re looking for donations of Christmas lights because we found people hadn’t been putting up lights for such a long time, they didn’t have any Christmas lights,” she said.
She said Christmas lights and extension cords would help sustain the program.
Keech said the support from the college and the students is greatly appreciated.
“It’s an intergenerational piece as well,” she said. “It’s so wonderful, the kindness. It’s one of my favourite days of the year.”
Keech said the CCSRC is holding additional fundraisers this year. Raffle tickets for a quilt donated by the Wee Fabric Shop are on sale.
“We’re creating a safe seniors calendar for 2028,” she said.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at the office inside the W.C. O’Neill Arena Complex or at the Wee Fabric Shop. Seniors interested in receiving help with Christmas lights can contact the CCSRC to register.
Students will return in the new year to take the decorations down.
