Waterford First Responders Shoebox Appeal provides huge boost for elderly

Waterford First Responders Group held a shoebox appeal for Assisi House on Wednesday, December 17. 

The Assisi House Christmas Party was made even better when the First Responders arrived with shoeboxes filled with presents for the elderly. 

“The atmosphere was brilliant,” Oliver Stapleton told the Waterford New & Star. 

He attended as part of Waterford First Responders. 

“It was just fantastic to see,” he said. 

The shoeboxes could not have been made without the help of the local community. Shoeboxes and gifts were dropped into donation points set up around Waterford, such as the Waterford Centre of Music.

The shoeboxes contained supplies such as hats, gloves, Christmas cards, chocolates, sweets, and small gifts - including hand creams, colouring books, pencils, and crossword books. 

This has not been the first year for the shoebox appeal. Last year, Waterford First Responders donated over one hundred shoeboxes to elderly people living alone. Otherwise, they may not have been given a Christmas present at all.

Assisi House Waterford is a non-profit Senior Social Centre located in Gracedieu. They offer a remarkable number of services for the elderly, including day trips, themed events, hot meals, arts and crafts, bingo, live music and entertainment, hairdressing, advocacy services, assisted bathing, a library and a TV room, reflexology and chiropody, and a bus collection and a drop off service. 

Established in 2002, the centre is thriving 23 years later.

Waterford First Responders are on call to the National Ambulance Service. When the National Ambulance Service do not have the facilities to help a certain call, the Waterford First Responders are sent. They are volunteer-based and respond to life-threatening emergencies. 

Oliver Stapleton, Waterford First Responders, said to the Waterford News & Star, “Thank you to the people of Waterford for the continued support of the group, and we wish everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas.”