Rector Hayden & Senior Sleigh Bringing Christmas Cheer to Over 650 Senior Citizens This Season
The Annual Senior Sleigh program officially kicks off on November 28th, where members of the community can ‘adopt’ a KY senior by choosing a wish list tag from the Lexington or Georgetown offices.
SENIOR SLEIGH, NORTH POLE
LEXINGTON, KY – Nov. 20, 2017
#LiveLocalServeLocal
Missy Ward and Rector Hayden Realtors are back again this year bringing Christmas Cheer to Kentucky Seniors in need. The Senior Sleigh Program is a charity endeavor created by Missy Ward, area Realtor® and radio personality. Various senior care centers across Central Kentucky, with residents in need, submit their wish lists to Senior Sleigh. Then, members of the community can ‘adopt’ a tag and purchase presents for these Seniors. For many of these residents, it may be the only holiday gift they receive.
This is how it works; anyone can come in to the Lexington or Georgetown Rector Hayden office, select a tag or tags, and sign out for the tag with the front desk. Then, you purchase the requested items, wrap them up nice and pretty, and return them to the location you retrieved your tag from. Simple and can mean the world for someone!
December 13th marks the first deadline and first round of deliveries, with presents being taken to Arcadian Cove in Richmond. The deadline for all other gifts to be returned is December. Some homes will be having Holiday Parties, and all are welcome to go with Rector Hayden and deliver the gifts! We’ll need some volunteer ‘sleighs’ to tote nearly 1,000 packages around Central Kentucky!
Last year, the Senior Sleigh Program brought joy to just over 600 senior Kentuckians – and this year, we are up to 681 seniors to serve. Last year we had over 100 requests come in at the last second, so there are plenty of seniors in need. We depend on our amazing, beloved community to come out and support this cause. You can adopt as many tags as you like! Many are filled with dear requests like ‘warm sweatpants’, ‘a box of twinkies’, or a favorite brand of lotion.
According to the 2013 Disability Status report, 56% of Kentuckians over the age of 75 have some form of disability. Kentucky also ranks 16th highest in the country for expenditures in nursing homes. This adds up to a growing population of beloved Kentucky seniors residing in extended care with very little resources.
Senior Sleigh was started in 2013 by Missy Ward, when her friend, a nurse, came to Ward with 25 residents that needed some holiday joy. That year it grew to 100 names before Christmas Eve, and has been a success each year after. Rector Hayden Realtors® was overjoyed to assist Ward in this project when she joined the brokerage in 2016 and strive to make it an even bigger success this year. More about Senior Sleigh can be found at www.facebook.com/seniorsleigh or by contacting Missy Ward at 859-806-7587, missyward@rhr.com
Rector Hayden REALTORS® is Central Kentucky’s favorite local real estate company, founded here in Lexington in 1969 by Ray Rector and Pat Hayden. The company was founded on core values that emphasized family and serving our community – and Senior Sleigh is just one of the great ways Rector Hayden gives back to Central Kentucky. More information about Rector Hayden can be found at www.RectorHayden.com, www.facebook.com/RectorHayden, or by calling 859-276-4811.
