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Holidays time to remember those without family
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| While the holidays bring many families together, some seniors are left. Home Instead Home Care for Seniors, a non-profit agency focused on seniors’ independence, is mobilizing its Be-A-Santa program, where volunteers bring some of that cheer to seniors finding themselves alone for the holidays. |
By YVETTE OROZCO
The holidays are often the time when families come together and one group is trying to make sure no one gets left out.
Home Instead Senior Care service is a non-profit agency which provides seniors the option of staying home while receiving the in-home they need to live independently.
During the holidays, not everyone is surrounded by family and a wealth of gifts under a tree and in 2006, Home Instead decided to do something for those left out of the holiday tradition.
The agency, based in the Bay Area, mobilized it’s Be a Santa to a Senior program, which locates seniors throughout local communities who are alone or struggling during the Christmas season.
“We’re trying to target seniors in the community that are either financially-challenged, who don’t have any family to speak of or who may have been impacted by Hurricane Ike,” said Jean-Marc Mira, the owner and founder of Home Instead.
Through senior centers and Meals on Wheels in surrounding areas, Home Instead found its recipients and teamed up with two are Wal-Mart stores to bring some holiday cheer into as many lives as possible.
These locations, one on Dixie Farm and 218, the other off 145 and El Dorado, will display a Christmas tree adorned with ornaments bearing the names of dozens of seniors and a gift suggestion.
Wal-Mart patrons purchase the gifts, bring them back to a collection box in the store which are collected by Home Instead Be A Santa volunteers, who then host a gift-wrapping party on Dec. 12 at the agency’s office.
The gifts are wrapped, delivered to the seniors or delivered in bulk to Meals on Wheels, who then deliver the gifts to the seniors from Dec. 17 and 19.
Be A Santa is a way, said Mira, is way to an often-overlooked segment of the population a timeless joy.
“There is a lot of emphasis and focus on children during the Christmas season and seniors sometimes get forgotten,” said Mira. “It is designed to bring holiday cheer to that part of the population that has done so much for us. It hopefully makes them feel a little special and not forgotten.”
To participate in the Be A Santa to a Senior program, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.
Home Instead Senior Care service is a non-profit agency which provides seniors the option of staying home while receiving the in-home they need to live independently.
During the holidays, not everyone is surrounded by family and a wealth of gifts under a tree and in 2006, Home Instead decided to do something for those left out of the holiday tradition.
The agency, based in the Bay Area, mobilized it’s Be a Santa to a Senior program, which locates seniors throughout local communities who are alone or struggling during the Christmas season.
“We’re trying to target seniors in the community that are either financially-challenged, who don’t have any family to speak of or who may have been impacted by Hurricane Ike,” said Jean-Marc Mira, the owner and founder of Home Instead.
Through senior centers and Meals on Wheels in surrounding areas, Home Instead found its recipients and teamed up with two are Wal-Mart stores to bring some holiday cheer into as many lives as possible.
These locations, one on Dixie Farm and 218, the other off 145 and El Dorado, will display a Christmas tree adorned with ornaments bearing the names of dozens of seniors and a gift suggestion.
Wal-Mart patrons purchase the gifts, bring them back to a collection box in the store which are collected by Home Instead Be A Santa volunteers, who then host a gift-wrapping party on Dec. 12 at the agency’s office.
The gifts are wrapped, delivered to the seniors or delivered in bulk to Meals on Wheels, who then deliver the gifts to the seniors from Dec. 17 and 19.
Be A Santa is a way, said Mira, is way to an often-overlooked segment of the population a timeless joy.
“There is a lot of emphasis and focus on children during the Christmas season and seniors sometimes get forgotten,” said Mira. “It is designed to bring holiday cheer to that part of the population that has done so much for us. It hopefully makes them feel a little special and not forgotten.”
To participate in the Be A Santa to a Senior program, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.
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