Angelic gesture: seniors receive unexpected gifts
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RONAN — Sometimes spreading Christmas cheer doesn’t require a snowy white beard and workshop of elves to make toys. A kind heart and knapsack full of goodies sufficed for one St. Ignatius woman.
Beginning two months ago, Doris Snyder crocheted more than 70 angels and created plastic crosses with the intent to give them away at Christmas time to members of the Ronan Senior Center.
“I thought it would be a nice thing to do,” Snyder said. “Some of the shut-ins might not have presents or see anyone for Christmas ... Seniors are close to my heart. Every senior is entitled to the respect that is due them, whether they get it in the form of a word or a gift.”
Snyder, who turned 73 earlier this month, has limited mobility, but fills her time by doing a number of crafts.
“I’ve got to have something to do with my hands,” Snyder she said.
On Dec. 17, the yarn angels were handed out to members of the Ronan Senior Center at Christmas dinner. One by one, members filed in and were able to pick an angel from a table full of them. Snyder’s friend Martha Allen manned the table and explained what Snyder had done, because Snyder had another engagement and wanted to let the seniors enjoy their gift without attention being focused on her.
“I like to see other people happy. (But) it’s not about me,” Snyder said. “I love Christmas. I just love the feel of the season and why we celebrate that time of year. It’s not Santa Claus that is the reason for the season.”
The estimated monetary value of the angels and crocheted crosses was is more than $700. After the dinner, Snyder told Allen the few remaining angels could be sold to benefit the Lake County Area Agency on Aging.
Seventeen of the angels were sent out with the Meals on Wheels program to homebound individuals.
“I just think it’s wonderful,” Joyce Town said as she watched the boxes being loaded at the Senior Center. “We always need things to cheer us up.”
