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Sault teen continues Adopt-a-Senior program for holiday season

Still navigating pandemic concerns
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In 2019, 16-year-old Morgan Turner and her mother, Kelly Turner, delivered more than 90 gift bags comprised of public donations to seniors living in four local care homes. Photo supplied

In memory of her grandmother passing away, Morgan Turner started the Adopt-a-Senior program in Sault Ste. Marie, in 2019. Turner accepted donations from individuals, businesses and organizations in the Sault, which she then packaged and delivered to seniors in the community. The now-Superior Heights alumnus has been organizing the program ever since, but now has to navigate the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turner was only 16 years old when she first organized Adopt-a-Senior. She had originally received messages from about 30 people and raised $150. That amount soon went up to $800, which amounted to 140 gift bags.

She was looking for anything to make the recipients more comfortable in their living space; including slippers, chocolates and blankets.

Donors could also give money to buy gifts.

The following year, Turner received even more support as well as a stunning endorsement from Mayor Christian Provenzano. However, in the context of the pandemic, Turner found herself having to balance the program with health considerations. 

She took the executive decision in 2020 only to accept cash donations, which she then sent to care homes for the staff to buy presents for seniors.

This year, Turner is living out of the province but is running the effort from a distance and maintaining COVID protocols:

“This year we are doing the same approach as last year,” she said. “We will be taking e-transfer donations to ensure no contact.”

She has set a goal for “$3,000 [worth of donations in] total which will be split up between multiple long-term care facilities in the Sault.”

“Although COVID restrictions overtime have worsened, lessened and are continuously changing, there are always seniors in need of our help— especially at Christmas time,” reads a Facebook post.

Apart from individuals, Turner is also taking corporate donations: In “the past few years, we have had corporate donors that I hope to work with again this year.”

She is “excited to see what this year brings and I cannot wait to see our community come together to make this another successful year for our seniors!”

Donations can be made through electronic transfer by email.


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Mike Hermida

About the Author: Mike Hermida

Mike Hermida is a Sault-based freelance writer at SooToday and a Law and Legal Studies student at Carleton University
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