A helping hand: Man gives to elderly, needy
Trending
FAIRMONT -- Sometimes helping others is the best way to help yourself. Eric Leach of Fairmont learned this lesson after a recent injury left him unable to work. Since that incident, Leach was inspired to start putting together gift baskets for the elderly and needy in the community who can't, or don't want to, go out.
Gathering such items as shampoo and conditioner, stationery, food, clothes, toys, etc., Leach shares that he has already reached out to some and has a desire to do more.
"We've done a little bit of everything," he said. " For Ingleside in Fairmont, I did 18 baskets for the memory care unit and 10 more for the assisted living there. I've done that for the assisted living place in Elmore, and I've been to St. James, Orsmby, Ceylon, Trimont, and Sherburn."
Leach states that realized he had a couple of options after his injury.
"Instead of getting depressed and sitting around, I wanted to figure out something to do. So I started a program just making boxes up for the elderly and needy.
"In Elmore, they had 10 males and 10 females who didn't have family that helped out, and there was a couple of them that needed bed sheets, pillows, pillowcases, nightgowns, and non-slip socks. So I purchased all that myself, and we've had a few donations.
Leach figures that about $400 has been raised for the effort so far.
"Baskets are usually $10 to $12 per basket and for the elderly, I'll get necessities, such as denture cream, denture adhesive, toothpaste, toothbrushes, lotion, and body wash. Then I'll also get notebooks, pens, pencils, word-finds, puzzles, Christmas towels, sugar-free candy, a Christmas ornament, and a hand-written letter."
Leach shares that he has found the experience very rewarding.
"It's nice. I can't work, so I needed something to do. What better?"
Leach was inspired by a Facebook post talking about people giving gift baskets to each other in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. But people were posting addresses, and he realized some elderly or needy may not want addresses posted.
"I thought it was neat, and it was something I could do," he said. "I have free time and I don't want to sit on the couch and be depressed if I can get out there and help somebody. So I made a Facebook post, and within a day I had someone get a hold of me."
Leach also tries to be a help in other ways.
"I also do free snow removal for elderly people. If anybody knows of or has an elderly neighbor, I'll get my four-wheeler and just go over and do it."
For those who want to help with gift baskets, Leach notes that they can be given anonymously.
"If you know a family down the street who may need some food or some presents for their kids, this is a good way to help. I went and bought one family $120 worth of groceries because a lot of food shelves don't have much in the way of meat. Then I got gifts for the kids."
"It's really on a need by need basis," he said. Leach also reaches out over Facebook for help.
"We can never have enough canned goods, toiletries, or anything that you can think of that a family would need."
Those who want to help out or request gift baskets for those in need can search for his name on Facebook, or call him at 507-848-4860.