Heritage Ministries has launched an online service to make it easier to give gifts to Heritage residents during the holidays.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to force many time-honored traditions and heart-warming gatherings to change,” said Lisa Haglund, Heritage president and CEO. “That won’t stop us from enjoying seasonal traditions, meaningful moments, and special memories. At our Heritage communities, nationwide, we are determined to make the holiday season of 2020 unlike any other, and our teams are working tirelessly to bring the joy this year.”

Heritage has already worked to make the holidays special with an online eCard system and virtual Thanksgiving Day Parade. Haglund said resident families, and community members have expressed concern over how to celebrate the holidays with loved ones in nursing homes amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our families are used to bringing gifts to their loves ones and celebrating the season together We understand that this year, those celebrations may look a bit different due to the regulations we are required to operate under, and knew we needed to have fun and get creative as we entered the holiday season to do that. One of the many innovative things we are doing is launching our new, online Heritage Holiday Shoppe. The Shoppe, like all of our holiday plans for this year, is all about bringing the joy and magic of the holidays to our residents,” she said.

The Heritage Holiday Shoppe, located at www.heritage1886.org/store, enables families and community members to purchase presents online for their loved ones and have them gift wrapped and delivered, free of charge, to Heritage residents on Christmas.

“Throughout our communities, we have a wide variety of residents with differing needs,” she said. “The Holiday Shoppe contains a wide variety of items suggested by staff and residents as presents. One of the other great features of the shoppe is the ability for anyone to purchase items, or donate funds, and be a “Secret Santa” to a resident or staff member at a Heritage community and surprise them with gifts. There are truly so many ways we can be a blessing to our seniors this Christmas.”

Heritage will continue to announce more holiday plans as the season continues.

“While we know this isn’t the same as the celebrations and time together we are all used to, Heritage is committed to making sure that no one celebrates alone, or goes unnoticed this year,” Haglund said.