Gifts for Calgary seniors ready for delivery

Volunteers put in a long day this weekend sorting and packing gifts for 2,700 Calgary seniors.

The charity group, Seniors Secret Service organized the collection of the donated presents.

"These people that you never do see are so grateful and they send us beautiful little notes and pictures and so it makes it all worthwhile," said DianaSharowho has volunteered to sort gifts for 17 years.

Greta Martin, the president of the Seniors Secret Service, says the group started the initiative 28 years ago to focus on seniors who are isolated and often forgotten.

"You could be very poor and be isolated or you could be quite rich and be isolated. But the thing is you're not being remembered on a very important day," said Martin.

Donors contribute by picking an anonymous senior and then buy them a gift based on age, gender and the person's preferences.

The gifts include everything from teddy bears to toiletries.

High demand

The organization saw increased demand from seniors this year which it believes could be linked to the June floods.

It also sawa drop in volunteersbut was able to fill those spots at the last minute.

DianaSharoexpects she will volunteer again next year.

"Sometimes I feel it's pay it forward. Maybe one dayI'll be alone at Christmas and it would be very nice if somebody showed up at my door and gave me a little gift from Santa."

The presents will be distributed on Monday.