Be a Santa to a Senior Gift Donations Needed More Than Ever This Year Be a Santa to a Senior is an international gift-gifting program, led by Home Instead Senior Care, that has distributed more than a million gifts to needy seniors. It is launching its sixth year in a time when the recession has left older adults with more needs than ever. Omaha, NE (PRWEB) November 24, 2009 Be a Santa to a Senior, an international gift-gifting program that has distributed more than a million gifts to needy seniors, is launching its sixth year, in a time when the recession has left older adults with more needs than ever. As part of the popular campaign, the international caregiving company Home Instead Senior Care is partnering with retailers, throughout the U.S. and Canada, and agencies that serve older adults to ensure that isolated seniors receive gifts and companionship. During the past five years, the campaign's 91,460 volunteers have distributed more than one million gifts to 700,000 seniors. "Seniors, like many others, have felt the effects of this recession, which is why we are so happy to lend a helping hand," said Home Instead Senior Care Co-Founder Lori Hogan. "Be a Santa to a Senior also is designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays." Here's how the Be a Santa to a Senior works. Prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors in their communities and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care. Christmas trees, which will go up in stores throughout North America, will feature ornaments with the first names only of the seniors and their respective gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached. Home Instead Senior Care then enlists the volunteer help of its staff, senior care business associates, non-profit workers and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to these seniors. Many communities schedule citywide gift-wrapping days for Be a Santa to a Senior, when hundreds of the presents are wrapped. "We've discovered that seniors really treasure gifts from the heart," Hogan said. "Other commonly requested gifts include grocery and restaurant gift certificates, snacks and chocolates, crossword puzzles and magazines, hats and gloves and blankets. "Be a Santa to a Senior is one meaningful way to give back to those older adults who have helped make their communities what they are today," Hogan said. "Our hope is that many will be touched by this holiday gesture of goodwill." Businesses are encouraged to contact their local Home Instead Senior Care office about volunteering or adopting groups of seniors who would benefit from help. For tree locations in your area or for more information about the program, visit the Be a Santa to a Senior website. ###
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