UPDATE: Community Connectors hope residents will write to seniors

UPDATE — Organizers of the current project to offer a little bit of support to those who may be feeling alone this holiday season have drafted a letter to the community. They hope residents will take the time to write to a senior and offer up small tokens of kindness to anyone who may be feeling lonely.

LAC LA BICHE - A window ornament, a pair of gloves, a box of cookies — or a little note with a Christmas wish ... anything to make a person who may be alone this Christmas season feel a little more connected.

That's the idea behind a current project by the newly-formed Community Connector Group in the Lac La Biche area.

Group members, made up of staff from local agencies and community residents, have put up a donation box at the Northern Lights Public Schools office in downtown Lac La Biche for residents to drop-off little gifts that can make a big difference.  Hoping that a few kind words, some chocolate or a little bottle of bubble bath will brighten the season for those who may be suffering from the effects of loneliness, group members are encouraging residents to take part.

Community Connector Group members will be distributing the items to people who find themselves alone this holiday season.

The Community Connector Group recently took part in a Lakeland Regional Health Authority workshop that identified the severe impacts of loneliness on a wide range of age groups and demographics within the community. Mental health and physical health can be severely impacted by loneliness or isolation, say group members.

A few kind words of inspiration on a Christmas card can speak volumes to someone suffering alone, says Community Connector Group organizer Lenora Lemay.

This is the first year for the Letter and Christmas Stocking Project hosted by the group. Lemay hopes to continue with projects throughout the winter months and into next year. She says that the pandemic has created more isolated and lonely people. While the group has been formed to highlight community social needs, the challenges of loneliness has become an integral part of their programming. A simple act of kindness by donating to the current project as well as remembering to spread kind connections throughout the year can help many people who may be suffering alone.

The drop box will be located outside the NLPS office during work hours until December 16.

The Community Connectors Group has been holding monthly virtual meetings for the last several months. The volunteer group plans to promote more projects in the coming weeks. Lemay says the board's membership is open to any community member who wants to join.