When six- to 13-year-olds ask 90-year-old folks about their Christmas memories, they’re not likely to hear about smartphones, tablets and television shows. At Swan Valley Lodge and Crest View Village in the past two weeks, memories of candles on trees, families travelling in covered wagons and childhood dolls that were lost and found made their way into a Christmas story read by children from Wildflower School and members of the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors. The audience joined in or enjoyed favourite Christmas carols interspersed throughout the play.
We all joined in for an afternoon of dancing at TAPS with these same youth and yes, there were the Macarena and the Chicken Dance, waltz lessons and much merriment of tapping toes, clapping and encouragement. Thanks, Wildflower School!
We have a new sponsor board at TAPS to celebrate and acknowledge the financial support of organizations that have made it possible to run our program this past year. In addition we have one banner that says “Community Donors”, as individuals have contributed and continue to play a role in our ongoing existence. Plans are in the works for a legacy board to acknowledge those who have left bequests on behalf of TAPS.
TAPS participants also like to support social causes. Big thanks to Doris Corbeil and Heather More for creating an annual event for them to do so. This year they donated food and their time to organize a turkey dinner assisted by three students from Prince Charles Secondary School to raise funds for Project Somos in Guatemala. This is an orphan prevention program taking in at-risk single mothers and children to give them a loving home, and supporting them to eventually be independent and contributing members out in their communities.
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped at the Blossom Valley Singers’ Christmas concerts with refreshments during the intermission — you made it lots of fun and a success — and thanks, of course, to those who donated for TAPS.
Thanks to the Creston Rotary Club for assisting financially with the distribution of our 2016 calendar and Brenda Silke for visiting us to deliver the cheque. The calendars are available at Creston Card and Stationery, Black Bear Books and Kingfisher Used Books in Creston and at TAPS and Valley Community Services (915 Pine St.) for that fun present or for your enjoyment.
Welcome to Brittany Crawford, our SchoolWorks student who has joined the team until the end of April.
Life is guaranteed to present changes and we sometimes have more than we anticipate at TAPS. Our best wishes go out to all those recovering from various health challenges and those who have lost loved ones.
Wishing you all the best for Christmas and the new year from all of us at TAPS!
Maureen Cameron is the community liaison development co-ordinator for the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors. For more information on TAPS, run by Valley Community Services, call 250-428-5585.