Christmas can be a lonely time for older people. The bad weather and reduced mobility means that many of them seldom see other people and fear of crime mean others are afraid to answer their doors.

Earlier this week however over 100 older people in the locality, from Dunleer to Drogheda, East Meath, Termonfeckin and elsewhere, received a knock on their door that was very welcome indeed.

On Monday morning volunteers from the Drogheda & District Support 4 Older People packed their cars with gifts and spent a few hours spreading some Christmas cheer to unsuspecting older people in Drogheda and the surrounding area. 

They delivered bags of Christmas gifts, some of them sponsored by Coca Cola and others by the Community section of Louth County Council.

This is the fourth year of this event which brings a great deal of happiness to the recipients but also to the volunteers making the deliveries.

Of course there are a lot more than 100 older people in the greater Drogheda area but because they are in touch, often on a daily basis, the good people at DDS4OP know where the need is greatest.

There’s not enough to go round for everyone on their books to receive a gift so DDS4OP Manager Dave Turner and his crew of little helpers must make the difficult decision on whose turn it is this year so they pick names at random.

All year round DDS4OP provide support for the health, safety, wellbeing and community involvement of older people in Drogheda and the surrounding areas but they like to go that extra mile at Christmas time.

One of the best-known and popular of their services is the “Good Morning Drogheda” by which they reach out every morning to older people living on their own to say “hello” and to check that they are safe and well.

For more information all the services offered by DDS4OP see dds4op.com or  FREE PHONE: 1800 200 100.