November 10 was a busy Sunday afternoon at a home in Clyde Township, as a crew of workers were busy wrapping 750 Christmas gifts for local seniors.
For twenty years, Ed and Mary Taylor, of Clyde Township, have been opening their home to holiday giving. The Clyde Township home was filled with bags, presents and wrapping paper as the couple is involved with many local charities. For many years, the couple has been organizing Christmas Gift Bags for local seniors.
Mary buys the biggest gift bags she can find and fills them with twenty-five different practical and fun gifts for seniors. The process of getting the gifts is year-round as she shops for the best deals. She raises money for the project through bake sales at Lenten Fish Fries at St. Mary church in Port Huron, and Mary bakes many of the items herself. She also does the shopping and recruits members of the Knights of Columbus and their families to help her wrap and deliver.
The Taylors started this project at the Marydale Village in 1999 and moved their efforts to Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home when Marydale closed. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor started this venture to show their senior neighbors that someone still cares and have continued doing so for two decades. They look forward to visiting with the seniors and helping to spread the Christmas spirit.
