Posted by Penny (207.69.40.134) on August 28, 2003 at 00:00:22:
In Reply to: Christmas Ideas posted by Cortney on August 24, 2003 at 10:12:42:
: Whats everyone do for christmas? What about gifts for the residents?
I have several residents that do not have family and presents are slim. We have churches and groups that donate gifts (which is appreciated) but they are often impersonal. I started a staff-resident secret santa program a couple of years ago and it has been a big hit. It is strickly volunteer, but on the payday before Thanksgiving staff draw resident names from a hat. Once a week, staff are required to purchase or make a small gift (we use the dollar tree) for their resident and keep it secret. Everyone really gets involved and it is funny to see the residents interrogate staff and try to figure out who has their name. We usually do 3 small gifts and a $10.00 gift for the resident Christmas party (that when they find out who has their name). Some of the residents were concerned last year because they didnt get their secret santa anything. So this year residents will make gifts for their secret santa as a craft. This is a way to get everyone in the Christmas spirit and staff and residents get to know each other better.