Local program brings holiday cheer to seniors

This season, many area seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior^® program. Sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care^® office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

“It is heartbreaking to think of the senior members of our community spending the holidays all by themselves, without any gifts or any way to celebrate the season,” says Charlie Holder, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange counties. “But all too often, that’s what happens when seniors live alone. It can be a really tough time of year for them.”

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Nutrition Services Meals On Wheels and The Foundation For the Betterment of Seniors to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect gifts in order to help more than 5,000 area seniors this holiday season.

Participating retail locations will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees from Nov. 28 to Dec. 23 that feature ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.

To find a complete list of the Be a Santa to a Senior trees locations, head to www.beasantatoasenior.com.

Program partners and volunteers will wrap and distribute the gifts to local seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.

“During this season of giving, we encourage shoppers to buy a little extra for a local senior,” said Holder. “Your gift - and more importantly the visit that comes with the delivery – could make their holiday season.”

For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 409-892-7494