Five years ago, Jamie Crozier an Emergency Medical Technician from the Dresden area was watching a Hallmark movie about a couple from another country who had lost their grandparent and decided to adopt a senior from a nursing home to visit and bring gifts to. Since Jamie had lost her own grandmother earlier that year and had spent her time as an EMT going into nursing homes in the area, it brought to mind an idea. With the help of some family and friends, she decided to start Adopt-A-Senior which would consist of getting a list of local seniors’ first names and items they like from two of the area nursing homes. Then those items would be delivered to the nursing homes before Christmas.
The first year, Jamie had successfully connected adoptions for 15 seniors. This year she has 115 adopted seniors from two nursing homes.
“I never expected it to blow up like it did, I just did it because I knew there was a need,” stated Crozier.
In the first three years of the program, Jamie would organize a Christmas party for the nursing homes which would include visits from Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Santa would ride in on the Fire Truck. Obviously, the last two years that has not been possible, but she is looking forward to the time when she can do that again. For now, she is able to drop off the items at the nursing homes for the adopted seniors who are more than happy to receive the items we take for granted. Some of the listed items include warm socks, a fuzzy blanket, and cheese balls. To us these things seem basic, but to the seniors, they are much appreciated.
This year Jamie even received a large donation from the Dollar General Warehouse that had a pallet filled with about 400 boxes of clothes, shoes, blankets, and more that she will be able to distribute to all of the nursing homes in Muskingum County.
It’s a large operation for Jamie, her two daughters, her daughter-in-law, and her son to handle but they do it gladly because they know the difference it makes for these seniors.
To get involved contact Jamie Crozier through her Facebook post on the Dresden Ohio group or call her at 740-624-4035. The deadline to donate is December 12th.
Photo submitted
