Something for Seniors began in the fall of 2022. At that time, Dan Kiedinger, Jeff Dickson, and Bev Schultz, three associates of United Country – Oakwood Realty, were focusing on ways to increase the firm’s visibility and position it as an option for people considering buying or selling real estate in and around the Viroqua area.
In a prior conversation with his real estate coach, Dan was challenged to come up with an idea, as the holiday season approached, to give back to the community. It didn’t take long for the group to focus on a population often overlooked. While there were already several well-established causes for children, pets, and other needs, Bev had an idea she wanted to present to her colleagues, which stemmed from her experience as a caregiver many years earlier in another part of the state.
Bev’s caregiving experience included working with both unimpaired elderly residents and those severely affected by diseases such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s. Many residents she cared for were fortunate to have regular visits from family and friends. However, some had few, if any, visitors—either because their loved ones lived far away or had simply abandoned them.
Some residents also struggled with clothing needs. Some had gained weight over the years and outgrown most of their garments, while others had only a few pieces left that were worn and tattered from frequent washing. Additionally, while most residents had their daily essentials—such as soap, lotion, deodorant, and laundry detergent—some did not. This reality became the inspiration for Bev’s idea, which she shared during the team’s brainstorming meeting. The idea was unanimously accepted.
Once the vision for the collection drive was in place, the next challenge was determining how it would be carried out and how long it would last. Bev suggested modeling it after the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s’ Toys for Tots®' program. The plan was to contact local senior living facilities to gather wish lists, reach out to local businesses for donation receptacle locations, and create both physical and digital marketing materials to spread the word to the community—just in time for the holiday season.
The first gift drive was a success! Encouraged by the response, the team unanimously decided to make it an annual event.
During discussions for the following year, it was decided that the collection drive would run throughout November. The month-long drive allowed enough time to collect donations, divide them equally among facilities, and ensure residents received their gifts before Christmas. Coincidentally, it was later realized that November is also Long-Term Care Awareness Month—an ideal time to show support and appreciation for both residents and caregivers.
