For one Bluff woman and her family, making sure the elderly in their community feel the love at Christmas is a top priority. 

Over 80 Christmas hampers filled with all sorts of Christmas treats, and essential items such as hand sanitisers, tissues and plasters, were given to the elderly community in Bluff last Saturday (December 19).

Receiving the hampers “brought tears to the [elderly’s] eyes,” said the Bluff Hamper Drive organiser Haylee Simeon. 

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She said too many old people spend Christmas alone, and don’t receive many – if any – gifts at Christmas time.

Some of them live away from their families or can’t get out much. With COVID-19 restricting travel this year the feelings of isolation and loneliness had compounded, she said.

For the last decade, Miss Simeon's mission has been to make sure as many elderly people in her community feel safe and loved. 

It all started when she and her eldest son Izaya took presents and cards to the elderly living at pensioner flats in Bluff.

Some of the hampers distributed by the Simeon family. PHOTO: Lucy Henry

She wanted to instill good values in her son so they took cards and small gifts, “just to say Merry Christmas… from our family to yours,’” she said. 

However, she noticed the elderly did not have much else in the way of presents at Christmas time. 

“They asked if they could open [the presents] on Christmas Day as it will be the only present they will get,” she said.

“Then we started realising that there were more elderly [who needed presents].”

From then on, Miss Simeon has been making sure as many elderly as possible don’t go without at Christmas. 

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What started as a small project with her son 10 years ago has grown into a large Christmas hamper drive for the elderly.

Many members of the community and local businesses get on board to help out and donate items.

A huge variety of food was donated this year, including 100 vacuumed sealed salmon packs and over 60 kilograms of fresh mussels. 

Miss Simeon and her family cannot can’t reach everyone, every year, but she keeps a note of who receives a hamper so those who have missed out can receive one in the future.

She wants to encourage those in other towns to start up a similar drive of their own, as there are elderly everywhere who feel alone at Christmas and she’s seen first-hand the positive impact that a little Christmas cheer makes to them.

As well as the Christmas hamper drive, Miss Simeon also runs a $12 lunch special at her restaurant, Hayz at The Anchorage, for the elderly every second Thursday.