BEHIND THE CASE FILES: ELDERLY ENJOY GIFTS, VISITS WITH 'ELVES'

There is little better in life than being surprised by a gift, especially at Christmas.

So my mother and I set out on Tuesday morning to deliver a few surprise gifts to people in the Christmas for the Elderly program. Other gifts will be delivered later this week.

I had written about the elderly for nearly three weeks, using only initials to tell their stories based on submitted case files.

What I read on paper didn't always make them real. I knew that most lived only on monthly pension checks and Social Security benefits. A few of the elderly have relatives nearby but don't receive much help from them.

These are people who want to live as independently as possible, given their circumstances.

On Tuesday I got a chance to visit some of the people I'd been writing about. They were gracious and grateful, wanting to enjoy the company because they don't often have company.

Christmas for the Elderly is a joint program of the Cape Girardeau County Health Department and the Southeast Missourian. Clients served by the Division of Aging also are in the program.

Gifts were collected at the Southeast Missourian offices and then sorted before delivery. There are still stacks of boxes and gifts spread out on the floor waiting to be sorted for delivery later this week.

Early in the day, battling bitter wind and piles of compacted snow, we loaded sacks of blankets, socks, towels and cleaning supplies into the car for the first deliveries.

Gifts distributed

At our first stop, Mr. G. was so excited by his gifts that he laughed out loud when he saw the large, black plastic sack full of presents.

"I must have been really good for you to bring a bag that big," he said, grinning.

Inside were the slippers, shirts and blankets he had requested. He wanted to wait until we had left before going through the bag.

Mr. M., who will turn 91 next month, was delighted by his visit. "Did you bring me a Christmas tree?" he asked.

I explained that the sack held Christmas gifts for him, and he asked whether he should look now or wait until the holiday. "I think I'll wait," he said.

After a short break and time to reload the vehicle, we headed out to see Mr. D., an 88-year-old retired minister.

There were so many gifts for Mr. D., that they barely fit into our two-door vehicle. Bags of dog food, blankets, cleaning supplies including a broom and mop, toothpaste, undershirts, clothes and other assorted gifts filled the seat and trunk.

"You just have to thank the Lord," he said as we made our way into his house again to bring more gifts.

His dog, a small black creature, greeted us with a bark at first but then settled down on the couch to watch as we worked. She sniffed each of the sacks and boxes before settling down again.

Because he lives alone, the dog helps keep him company, said Mr. D. "I don't know what I'd do without her."

Any extra items donated to the Christmas for the Elderly program will be stored with the county health department and used for clients throughout the coming year.