Enjoying the Holiday Season at Oxford Health and Rehab

In 2013, a Facebook group was started for a Christmas charity for The Oxford Health and Rehab. What started off as only an idea for the 12-year veteran therapist, finally became a vision. Therapist Allie Chotard has since then used her charity as an inspiration to many.

The charity event runs through Facebook and allows people to adopt a resident in the Oxford community. The charity event also gives people the opportunity to give back to the elderly through secret Santa gifts.

To adopt a resident, people must join the Facebook group, and wait for a post to inform them about adopting a patient. If group members want to adopt a specific patient, they have to comment under the Facebook post to express their interest.

There are over 100 residents and over 1,000 members that invest their time and money into this organization. With the help of over 100 volunteers and food companies, the charity is able to access affordable foods, toiletries and other desires. 

One of the most popular features from the charity is the wish list. Chotard and other organizers speak with patients in order to get information that is needed to create the patients’ wish list. Due to the increase in participation from patients, the process to get wishes from residents is longer than it used to be in 2013.

This organization started off with a focus on providing the needs for the elders in the facility. Chotard wanted to go the extra mile to make sure all patients’ needs were met during the holiday season. In order to do so, Chotard made it a priority to get the community involved.

The most rewarding part of this organization for the director, Allie Chotard is hearing all the stories that come from this experience.

“I get to hear people say, I lost my mom and didn’t think I could get through Christmas, but with this I did,” Chotard said, “that’s my Christmas present to myself.”

Chotard has made a big impact in the nursing home. Some patients have received big gifts like dentures, hearing aids, and prosthetic legs. Money was raised through go fund me accounts to pay for these items.

Along with her impact on the community, Chotard has even been able to influence her friends to get involved with her charity. 

“I met her through the nursing home with us working there together” co-organizer Amanda Josten said, “I was involved as someone in the general community and the more it grew, I just stepped up and got involved as her right-hand man.”

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than 50% of nursing home residents have no close relatives, and 46% have no living children.

“It’s good to have people to come and talk with us, family, especially during the holiday season, because it’s sad,” Oxford Health and Rehab resident Joyce Bell said.

Chotard’s goals for the charity is to give the patients a wonderful holiday, to give them hope and to create new connections with families in the Oxford community. Chotard even hopes to inspire others to start their own organizations.

If anyone wants to start a charity, Chotard suggests getting a committee of at least 20 people that are dedicated to serving the community.