'It Does The Heart Good': LIFE Senior Services Collects Stockings To Spread Holiday Cheer

If you drove on 31st street Tuesday in Tulsa, you might've gotten slightly distracted by the big green bus on the side of the road. 

If you took a closer look you'd find a wagon full of stockings and volunteers in their Christmas decor, hoping to spread a little holiday cheer.

“Loneliness and isolation kind of doubles down at the holidays for everyone, so this very vulnerable population deserves a little bit of extra attention this time of the year,” said Carrie Clevenger with LIFE Senior Services.

By vulnerable population, Clevenger means senior citizens and by extra attention, she means making sure their smiles are extra bright this Christmas.

Life Senior Services is trying to get this green bus full of a thousand stockings just for senior citizens this holiday season.

“Stamps, backscratchers, puzzle books are non-essential items, but we encourage you to fill it with a little bit of essential and non-essential to make it fun,” Clevenger said. 

This is just one leg of LIFE’s holiday project, which aims to spread joy to isolated seniors with limited incomes. Clevenger says the goal is to remind seniors that someone is thinking of them. Someone like Deanna and Kathy, both who donated a stocking.

“Because I know elderly are low-income and they need happiness too, spreading a little joy,” Deanna said.

"A lot of people are alone this time of year that are elderly like that, and for them to get a present or get what they are needing, it does the heart good,” said Kathy.

They say it's like being a Santa to a senior. And although the identity on both sides of the gift exchange is a mystery, happiness is still spread all around.

“Even though you might never know the person you're giving the stocking to, and the receiver may never know you, it just shows you that someone cares about you and values you as a part of this community still,” Clevenger said. 

The green bus is easy to see but these women hope these stockings make their seniors feel seen too.

LIFE Senior Services will be accepting stockings until Dec. 15. 

Tuesday is the only day they will be at Legacy Plaza, but they will accept donations at their building. 

For more information on LIFE's Holiday Project, click here. LIFE's Holiday Project — LIFE Senior Services