“We have so much fun doing this. Every year, we like to see some new friends as well as old friends who come to this and look forward to it. There’s a lot of good community spirit,” Natale said. 

The popular event drew a sold-out crowd of 120 seniors to the Thornton Wilder Hall in the Miller Memorial Central Library and Cultural Complex on Friday, December 12. Tickets were offered for a nominal fee of $10. In addition to being treated to a hot holiday meal, live musical entertainment and decadent desserts, the seniors receive bountiful holiday gift bags packed with useful personal items, snacks, games, holiday treats and winter sundries.  

“For many of the seniors, this is their only holiday celebration. This is their family away from family, and they all look forward to it tremendously,” said Hamden Senior Services coordinator Kim Craft. 

Craft said Quinnipiac was the first community organization to support the program when it began as a holiday gift drive for community seniors 19 years ago. In addition to the many gift items collected at community donation box locations at Quinnipiac and local businesses, committee member organizations contribute special gifts for each senior.  

This year, Quinnipiac provided 120 warm, cozy lap blankets to top off the event’s well-stuffed holiday gift bags. 

“For a lot of people, the gift bag is the only holiday gift they’re going to get, so it really means a lot,” said Natale.  

Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce President Nancy Dudchik said the Chamber is grateful for its ongoing partnership with Quinnipiac and the university’s support of this important annual community event. 

“It’s a wonderful partnership that the university has had with us for all these years,” Dudchik said. “Giving gifts of warmth and making the senior community feel special is really important for us. It’s the feel-good event of the year.”  

Natale said Quinnipiac President Marie Hardin’s focus on community service and her work with local leadership, including Hamden’s newly elected mayor Adam Sendroff, will continue to strengthen the university’s commitment to its communities. 

“We’re thrilled to be able to partner with our communities in Hamden as well as North Haven, and to have our students, faculty and staff involved in many community service projects. We feel it’s so important to give back,” Natale said.  

On December 12, Sendroff greeted seniors as a special guest of the holiday luncheon. Hamden’s mayor said he was grateful to see the support of Quinnipiac and many other community organizations at an event which helps to provide for the health and wellness of seniors individually and as a community. 

“It’s extremely heartening, but I’m not surprised, because we have a wonderful greater community with a lot of wonderful partners including Quinnipiac,” Sendroff said. “I’m very happy to have met President Hardin and look forward to collaborating more in the future.”  

Hamden senior citizen Mary Nelson said she was enjoying her fifth year attending the holiday event. 

“It’s a wonderful way to get everyone together for the holidays. I enjoy the people, I enjoy the food, and I enjoy the Senior Center,” said Nelson. 

Kirsten Webb, university events coordinator, Beth Griswold, associate director of events/director of university club operations, and Charity Kuchyt, director of conferences and events, joined Natale as volunteers at the 19th Annual Hamden Holiday Senior Gift Run. 

“I love this event. It has such a strong feeling of community,” Kuchyt said. “We love connecting with our Hamden residents. It’s such a great opportunity to be a part of the community and have some time with them.”