Chris Lovelock said that once her grandmother moved into a nursing home, one of the things she missed most was the ability to go shopping for her loved ones during the holiday season. In honor of her grandmother, who passed away this spring, Lovelock has taken it upon herself to see that other nursing home residents have the opportunity to shop for their children and grandchildren at Christmas without leaving the facility, and better yet, without having to spend a dime.

Lovelock’s grandmother Carolyn Fowler, unknowingly sparked the idea for such a program three years ago while she was living at Belle Manor in New Carlisle. She told Lovelock that she terribly missed being able to go out shopping in the stores for Christmas presents for her children and grandchildren. Although Lovelock offered to do her grandma’s shopping for her, Fowler insisted that it just wouldn’t be the same, and an idea was immediately born in Lovelock’s mind. Three years ago, she began a sort of “Secret Santa” shop for Belle Manor residents that has continued through this year, and she hopes to make it an annual tradition for years to come.

“I want to keep doing this in her memory,” Lovelock said of her grandmother.

With the help of two local homeschool co-ops, Lovelock produces the secret shop essentially by herself each year, working all year long to obtain donations and items with which to stock the store so that residents don’t have to pay for anything.

She said her church, Bethel Baptist in Bethel Twp., provides donations for her to buy items at thrift stores and garage sales throughout the year. Lovelock is also a member of the New Carlisle-based Stitches United, a group of volunteers who make thousands of hand-sewn items for the less-fortunate all year. Stitches United donates bibs, activity mats, wheelchair bags, and more for Belle Manor’s shopping program.

She said that about 20 children from the Checc and Able Homeschool Co-Ops acted as elves at last week’s program, escorting more than 30 residents from their rooms and wrapping up their gifts in Christmas paper and bows so that they would be spared the trouble.

Lovelock said each resident was permitted a certain number of gifts, and that most of them had to be encouraged to select something for themselves instead of buying only for their friends and family.

She said that the residents as well as the students seem to get a lot of holiday cheer from the event, noting that some of the residents were very obviously affected by Lovelock’s uniquely compassionate program.

“We definitely get a lot out of this, as well as the residents,” she said. “One of them even cried, they were so grateful.”

Anyone interested in making a donation to Lovelock’s program for next year should call her at 937-314-0019, or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..