By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Caroling, community, and comfy socks were the story Thursday afternoon at Princeton Place of Ruston as members from the Lincoln Parish Retired Educators group came out to sing and bring gifts to the facility’s residents in a program titled “Carols, Comfort, and Joyful Socks.”
The group sang multiple Christmas carols together, and LPRE President Dr. Liz White recited the entirety of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas from memory.
“We come to the nursing home every year,” White said. “We feel it’s important to rally the community to help them and not forget these residents. Sometimes, that’s a group that can be forgotten, so it’s just a routine for us now. It’s good for them to see people from the community caring for them. My preacher said that if someone can’t get to church, then you’re going to have to take church to them.”
Princeton Place Director of Activities Lisa Gipson shared her appreciation for the group coming out to visit the residents.
“I really appreciate (the LPRE) coming out,” Gipson said. “I told some of the residents that this group has come out for as many years as I can remember. We really, really just appreciate it.”
Following the caroling and the program, the residents were given socks that were collected by the LPRE from donation sites at the Boys and Girls Club and at the Council on Aging.
White said the original goal for the socks was 50 pairs back the the sites were set up in mid-November. And on Thursday, the response had been so overwhelmingly positive that 140 pairs were given out to the residents.
