By Dianne Anderson

Isolated solo seniors will have a little something to smile about this Christmas, thanks to the cheerful givers of the Orange County chapters of the National Action Network, the Delta Sigma Theta, and NCNW.

Darlene Futrel, the president of the local NAN, said she started the event three years ago to help seniors, some who go without any visits from family or friends this time of year. She called around to different elder homes in the county for a list of names of those whom they could serve.

Last year, she said they created and delivered 115 baskets. This year, nonprofits and volunteers will culminate for the day at Second Baptist Church to pack 150 baskets with blankets from Macy’s, socks, gloves, hats, books and crosswords, mugs of hot chocolate and Christmas ornaments. Each Christmas card is handwritten.

She is working with Black churches to get baskets out to those in need, but they could use more volunteers. Each basket will be hand delivered with a personalized card.

The idea behind the baskets is the realization that every single person will eventually be a senior.

“Any of us can be a solo senior, it means no one is checking on you or advocating for you,” she said. “The cards are addressed to seniors and that’s why we wanted their first names. We don’t want them to receive it as a donation. We want it to feel like a gift.”

NAN, an organization founded by Rev. Al Sharpton, is mainly known for its social justice work, but Futrel said they are concerned with connecting to all community groups that are at risk. She said that one in every five older adults is considered a solo senior, isolated without anyone connecting with them.

Futrel works closely caring for her mother, who is in her 90s, and she feels the senior outreach effort is an important one. Even seniors with children can be solo-isolated if they are not being visited.

“What happens when you get put in the home or hospital and nobody comes to check on you? You get the worst care, neglected. Older people are the population that this country has forgotten about,” she said.

Last year, she said over 40 volunteers showed up for their event. For those that receive, the baskets do make a difference. It’s a big undertaking.

“The baskets are beautifully done. You have to put them in cellophane and make bows and the cards  inside,” she said. “It’s more than just stuffing baskets.”

All she asks is that the community give up one hour of their time.’

If someone knows a solo senior, who is without family or friends, they can contact the organization for a basket, but she requests that the nominee also come and volunteer to help build the baskets together.

“What everybody said about our event was that it was fun because we had food — and we didn’t have cheap food. We had holiday music and you knew you were doing something to bless somebody. That’s just the best feeling,” she said.

Long-time NCNW member, Sybella Ferguson-Patten, said this year their organization is excited to be participating in the project to help NAN.

The ladies of Orange County NCNW are also supporting their regular Christmas projects to bring good cheer, including Crittenton Services for Children and Families, a home for troubled teens, along with several local social programs the organization supports year-round.

Among their other projects is Joanie’s Purse Project, an outreach of YWCA Central Orange County. That program helps provide hundreds of purses and bags filled with personal hygiene and care items.

Making and decorating holiday fruit bags with nuts and candy to deliver to the girls of Crittenton is her cherished tradition from rural North Carolina that she started from her family memories.

She said the girls love it.

“We adopted it for Crittenton. Hopefully, it’s something they think of and perhaps pay it forward,” she said. “We are also now working with young adults aged out of foster care now living on their own, and we are participating in the Angel Tree project.”

Other efforts include the Saving Our Sisters project, where they collect scarves, buy and package hygiene products and supplies for women of color who are homeless, and in transition.

People are in crisis all the time.

“It’s not like you just pop up and do it during the holidays, every day is a crisis. It’s not worrying about a big holiday meal, it’s do I have food every day,” she said.

From just a few years ago, five or ten years ago, she said it’s a different dynamic, particularly in how nonprofits respond to the need.

“There’s a big divide between have or have nots. When you talk about haves, it’s not even for luxury, it’s just for the essentials of life.”

On Friday, December 15, the solo senior event runs from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Volunteers are requested to register at

https://tinyurl.com/Holiday-Baskets-Solo-Seniors

To support NCNW with donations or purses, contact email at  ncnwoc@aol.com see

https://www.facebook.com/OrangeCountyNCNW/