When Susan Aceti’s mother went to visit a friend at a senior nursing home, she saw residents eager for connection and a break from their everyday schedule. Susan felt her heart pushing her to do something to bring joy to this group of seniors, to give them something unexpected to brighten their day. To reach out to her mother’s friend and all the residents, Susan decided she would take her experience with national fundraising and pull together local resources to give the seniors a pick-me-up.
Life in assisted living can be comfortable and engaging, but there can still be moments of loneliness, especially on special days. Using her fundraising skills and local contacts, Susan began pulling together local businesses to fill tote bags with little treats and useful products. She is working with the nursing home manager to distribute these “love bags” to every resident of Zebulon House over Valentine’s weekend.
Each resident will receive a tote containing toiletries, candies, and puzzle books. She is asking local businesses to “share the love” and provide small treats to fill the tote bags.
So far, Wendell’s Brown Bag Bagels, Louisburg’s Ray Family Farms, and the Wendell General Store are supporting the project. She welcomes businesses to include their own special goodies in the totes, including lotion, lip balm, pens, pads, and chocolates — all totes will contain snacks, with several totes containing treats that are more diabetic-friendly.
A total of 60 totes will be distributed, which provides one to each resident at Zebulon House. Donations are being collected now. Tote sponsorships are needed by January 22, 2016, with product donations taken through the first part of February. Then, the love bags will be assembled, and distributed on February 13, 2016.
Not only will your goodies brighten the day for these 60 Zebulon seniors, but the dozens of staff members will be made aware of the local shops that donated to brighten their residents’ day.
Following the event, information on the businesses and the people they helped will be shared on social media sites too. All business support will be appreciated and word spread, whether donors are inside or outside Zebulon.
Zebulon House is located at 551 Pony Road, in Zebulon NC. It is an assisted living center, with amenities to make residents comfortable and provide activities. More information is online at www.meridiansenior.com/community/zebulonhouse.
Susan and her family have lived in Zebulon for 23 years. In addition to her work with national fundraising events, she is a Thirty-One Consultant. If you or your business would be able to donate goodies for the Zebulon House love bags, or sponsor $14/bag for the number of residents you choose, contact Susan at 919.426.3779 or message her via www.mythirtyone.com/susanaceti.
*** UPDATE ***
The love bag giveaway at Zebulon House is scheduled for February 13, 2016, at 11am. New donors supporting this event include Mclean’s Ole Time Cafe (Zebulon NC), Olde Heritage Builders (Zebulon NC), Barnes Collision Repair Center (Zebulon NC), Bravos Pizzeria (Wendell NC), and Simple Soap and Balm.
