The residents of Autumn Care nursing home on Pruden Boulevard got a few early Christmas presents this year from CHEP Services LLC. The company stopped by on Thursday to drop off a new countertop oven, keyboard and plenty of candy.

“We call them interaction gifts,” said Erick Cross, plant manager for CHEP Services LLC in Harbour View. This marked his fourth year visiting the Autumn Care residents. “We go talk to the residents every year, have a conversation with them and give them some candy.”

The annual arrangement is a good fit for the Harbour View location, Cross said. He asks his wife, Tameika Cross, the activities director for Autumn Care, what the residents need each year.

This also aligns with the company’s policy of getting out and interacting with local businesses, he said.

“It’s our way of just reaching back out to the community,” he said.

The oven will be used for the residents’ cooking ventures and has long been requested by resident Bruce Richardson. Cooking runs in his family, down to his daughters and sons, he said.

“Me and my sons can out-cook the daughters,” he said.

Nancy Copeland, meanwhile, will keep playing songs to entertain her fellow residents. Tameika Cross said she’s a lifelong piano player and plays for the other residents once or twice a month.

This new keyboard will be a nice upgrade compared to the piano that the facility has had for 30 years.

“I’m going to play White Christmas, and then try to play a hymn,” she said with gratitude.