By Bea Coker, Contributor
NORTHEAST, Fla. – On Sunday, December 22, 2024, holiday magic came alive as members of Our Community Cares Coalition donned festive costumes and visited three nursing homes in Northeast Florida to deliver Christmas gifts and cheer. Residents and staff at The Canopy at Harper Lake in Lake City, Surrey Place Nursing Center in Live Oak, and Suwannee Valley Nursing Center in Jasper were treated to a heartwarming experience featuring Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, and a merry band of elves.
“The event is the first of its kind by the drug coalition,” said Bea Coker, organizer of the effort. “But we hope it will become an annual event to remind elderly residents that they are not forgotten in our communities.”
The joyful troupe included 14 coalition members, with Joseph Simmons taking on the role of Santa Claus and Jada Rivers as Mrs. Claus. Beneath a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, Cynthia Robinson of Big Media set the festive mood with classic holiday tunes, while Commissioner Kevin Parnell alongside Santa’s elves distributed individually bagged gifts. Each gift contained an assortment of hygiene items, socks, facial masks, a greeting card, and snacks—a thoughtful token of love and care.