Many of Northwood long-term care home’s seniors are getting a gift from the community this year.
Support flooded in after Nicole Martelle’s annual call for blankets for seniors went viral.
I desperately need folks to retweet. The blanket drive presently only has TWO blankets. There's 28 days left to donate a new store bought or handmade blanket for a senior to have at Christmas. Let's get to work Tweeters! Drop off at Halifax Northwood or Allen Print!
— Nicole (@SlicckNic) November 7, 2021
Martelle had two blankets at the beginning of the month, now she has 150.
She said it’s overwhelming to see the support for residents at Northwood long-term care home.
“This year especially, you know, it’s been a tough year on folks,” she said. “As long as we can pass it out to one person, that makes a difference.”
Martelle said many groups, youth groups, community groups, and cultural groups have put together donations.
Not even half. This is missing 3 large bags in my storage room, 43 at a fellow students house and dozens at Allen Print. pic.twitter.com/zmVDcydo8V
— Nicole (@SlicckNic) November 24, 2021
She said, even though she’s the one handing out the blankets, it’s a community effort.
“I always make sure that they know that this is not just coming from me, this is coming from your community,” she said. “People do care, people don’t just set seniors aside at Christmas, as we often do in society.”
Martelle said she’s planning to collect blankets for seniors until Dec. 5.
She said she hopes to get 200 blankets at least: 190 for seniors at Northwood Centre, 25 for Northwood Home Care, and any more to Oakwood Terrace.
You can give a blanket 24 hours a day at Northwood’s Halifax campus, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Allen Print in Dartmouth, or by getting in touch with Martelle in Bedford and Sackville.
