Mayor Maureen Miller Brasse joined police and fire personnel to hand out holiday gift bags to seniors at McNamara Towers in Livonia, delivering what she said were more than 140 packages assembled with help from city employees and community donors.

Brasse opened the visit with a seasonal greeting, saying, "Well, Merry Christmas, everybody," and described the program's origin and purpose. She said the distribution began as a COVID-era effort and is now in its fifth year as a way to make sure seniors feel "important" and connected to their neighbors and the city.

City staff, officers and firefighters carried bags of food, gift cards and hygiene items into the senior housing building and went door to door to hand them to residents. Brasse said the effort involved "employees, all of our workforces, people in communities supporting with gift cards and food items and hygiene items," and thanked volunteers and donors.

At the first door, residents greeted the visitors with seasonal wishes and thanks. One resident asked who was delivering the packages and was told they were from "all of us at the city level." Residents responded with "Merry Christmas" and "Thank you" as staff made handoffs.

Brasse said the city assembled "over a 140 bags" for McNamara Towers residents and stressed the importance of checking in on neighbors during the holidays. The visit concluded with city staff exchanging holiday salutations and leaving the building after completing deliveries.

The city did not announce an ongoing schedule for similar distributions elsewhere during the visit. No formal motions or votes were recorded at the event.