MIAMI VALLEY — People spending the holidays in nursing homes got a visit from a local woman, who is honoring her grandfather by providing Christmas gifts to those who may not be visited otherwise.
Katelyn Hoover has lived in the Dayton area her entire life and lost her grandpa in September 2019. She said her grandpa’s death shook her family to its core.
PHOTOS: ‘Presents from Poppy’ delivers gifts to nursing homes
It prompted her to start what she calls ‘Presents from Poppy’ and she hopes it could eventually turn into a local non-profit. For now though, her family and friends are paying for the gifts.
“While my grandpa was very lucky to be able to live at home with his wife, my grandma - I know many others aren’t able to do so,” Hoover told News Center 7. “I wanted to do something to honor my grandpa after he had passed away. I went out and bought 75 gifts from the dollar store, wrapped them, and delivered them to a local nursing home in his honor.”
That was 2019 and two years later Hoover has grown her mission to provide nursing home residents with Christmas gifts, this year purchasing and wrapping over 850 gifts for residents staying at St. Leonard in Centerville and Maria Joseph in Trotwood.
>> Trotwood seeing ‘drastic increase’ in thefts from cars
“If anything, I would just love to spread awareness that it’s not only the little ones who may need a little extra magic during the holidays, but those in nursing homes too, who may never get visitors, are the last left of their family, or have family across the country who may not be able to make it to them,” Hoover said.
News Center 7 was at St. Leonard Wednesday when Hoover gave residents their gifts.
“Oh that’s wonderful,” one woman said as she opened her gifts. “This is great.”
©2021 Cox Media Group
