It’s a normal occurrence around the holidays for companies to create commercials that tug on the heartstrings, and this year is no different. A recent animated commercial by the grocery chain Kroger depicts a young girl and her dog playing outside when she notices an elderly neighbor who lives alone and appears lonely. So as the little girl’s parents prepare a festive meal, the girl adorably and not-so-discreetly swipes some of the food items and places them on a plate, which she then leaves outside the elderly woman’s door. When her parents find out what she’s done, the entire family takes the meal and goes over to the woman’s home, and they share a meal together.
The screen then reads “Share your food. Share your heart.”
This touching commercial reminds us that all too often we get so wrapped up with our own holiday plans that we forget about those who are suffering and lonely during the holidays, especially the elderly who may not have family, who may have lost a spouse, or who may be unable to travel. We must remember that being pro-life means more than just protecting babies; it calls us to protect all those who are vulnerable.
According to the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, “In January 2023, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA) asked a national sample of U.S. adults age 50–80 questions about loneliness . . . and their social interactions.” It found that “one in three adults age 50–80 (34%) reported feeling isolated from others.”
That loneliness, especially around the holidays, can be crushing.
If we are going to fight for and stand for the sanctity of life and the respect for all people, we must include individuals at every stage of life.
Yet, this awareness should come throughout the year, not just on holidays. While it’s important to have these commercials as a reminder during the holidays, as that is when people feel the most disconnected from long-distance friends and family, loneliness can swallow a person any time of the year.
Commercials like Kroger’s serve as reminders that we can all ease someone’s loneliness. What that looks like depends on our individual circumstances. We can start by putting ourselves in the shoes of an elderly person who does not live near family or who has no family. We can take steps to brighten their day via a personal phone call, a visit, a text, or a hand-written card or letter. Taking time to reach out makes a person feel valued, loved, and most of all remembered.
We can also broaden our scope and pay attention to the people in our neighborhoods, in our parishes, and in our communities, including those in nursing homes. The National Center for Health Statistics has found that “about 60% of nursing home residents get no regular visitors.” This is a terrible tragedy. Imagine living in a facility where no one visits you, or maybe you get a visitor once a year on Christmas day because relatives find it obligatory. These places often desperately need volunteers. Prayerfully consider giving your time. It takes no money, just your compassion and love.
If we truly want to build a culture of life, we need to change our mindset about the vulnerable, and that includes the elderly. We need to want to visit and care for them, no matter their abilities or where they live, for it’s not about what we can get from them, it’s about what we can give them.
Though the little girl in the Kroger commercial is fictional, the situation depicted is not. Loneliness is ubiquitous, and the remedy starts with each of us. Giving of our hearts is a sentiment that should resonate with us during not just the holidays but throughout the year. So as we embark on the new year, let us share our hearts with the elderly, knowing that through us they will also see a glimmer of the heart of Christ.
This article first appeared on Mercator at mercatornet.com/a_grocery_chain_adds_compassion_to_its_offerings.
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