SAN MARCOS–The team at the nonprofit West PACE will host a drive-up collection event for their ongoing “Everyday Necessities Drive for North County Seniors” community campaign.
The December 22 event is open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the parking lot of the Gary and Mary West PACE Center, located at 1706 Descanso Avenue in San Marcos.
All donors who drive-in to drop-off items at West PACE will receive a coffee and a holiday treat.
Organizers encourage San Diego County businesses, community groups, and individuals to donate new and unused toiletries, games, puzzles, socks, masks and other care items that will be assembled into holiday gift packages and new year bundles. Their goal is to collect hundreds of items to create 200 bundles which will be gifted to vulnerable North County seniors with chronic care needs who rely on West PACE for high-quality, comprehensive, and coordinated healthcare, social services.
Local companies and groups have already come on board to support the inaugural Everyday Necessities Drive for North County Seniors hosted by West PACE: San Diego North Economic Development Council, West Health, Devore Realty Group, and Qualicare San Diego.
“Seniors often make difficult decisions between buying food or personal care items,” says Rena Smith, executive director, West PACE. “Since Southern California is in a stay-at-home order and there is a significantly reduced capacity at retail stores, it will be difficult for seniors and family caregivers to shop for the essentials, items that we take for granted everyday,” says Renata Smith, executive director, West PACE. “Our ‘Everyday Necessities Drive for North County Seniors’ is a great opportunity for students and businesses who are looking for a community service project to give back to our senior neighbors in a tangible and immediate way.”
In addition to distributing items during the holiday season, items will also be used to stock the center’s “Care Closet,” where West PACE team members can provide these extras to seniors in need or by request from caregivers throughout the year. The wish list includes: warm clothing accessories like scarves, mittens, gloves, socks; fleece blankets; large print books; games and puzzles; crossword books; masks; hand sanitizer; Kleenex; shampoo; conditioner; lip gloss; hand soap; body wash; women’s lotion; men’s razors; women’s razors; shaving cream; men’s undershirts; toothpaste and toothbrushes; denture kits; toilet paper; and senior friendly manicure kits. A complete wish list of gift ideas is available on westpace.org.
For those who are not able to make it to the Dec. 22 drive-thru event, items can be dropped off at the West PACE center during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., through Dec. 31. Organizers have also set up a GoFundMe page to collect financial donations for those in the community who are not able to make it to the West PACE center but are interested in supporting the holiday drive efforts.
For more information about “Everyday Necessities Drive for North County Seniors” visit www.westpace.org.
