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An elderly woman smiles with Santa
As the community prepares to celebrate the season of giving, Home Instead’s Charlie Holder is encouraging Southeast Texans to share the holiday spirit with older adults who may not be anticipating any gifts under the tree this year. Through the agency’s “Be a Santa to a Senior,” community members can share the holidays with caring gifts for older adults in need of the connection.
“A simple gift can bring such joy to older adults who may not have loved ones to celebrate with,” Beaumont Home Instead office owner Holder said. “Through Be a Santa to a Senior, we can help them feel the holiday spirit.”
Now in its 19th year, the program is currently underway throughout Southeast Texas, and local seniors can be “adopted” through ornaments found on Be a Santa to a Senior trees scattered in the Tri-County area through Dec. 21. This year, program coordinators hope to collect over 3,000 gifts for local older adults.
To participate, shoppers can look for Be a Santa to a Senior trees or displays at locations supporting the endeavor. Ornaments featuring the name and desired gift of an older adult will be on display, and shoppers can buy the requested gift and return it wrapped or in a gift bag to the location with the ornament attached. The gifts will be delivered to local older adults in time for the holidays.
“This program is so much more than gift-giving – it’s about the special moments and joy shared between the older adults and the community around them,” Holder shared. “There is nothing better than seeing the smile on an older adult’s face when they open their gift.”
Be a Santa to a Senior coordinates support from local businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community. The Home Instead office serving Beaumont has partnered with Meals on Wheels, Jefferson County and Orange County to help with gift collection and distribution.
Since the program’s inception in 2003, Be a Santa to a Senior has mobilized more than 65,000 volunteers, provided approximately 2.2 million gifts, and brightened the season for more than 750,000 older adults nationwide. For more information, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call (409) 241-7320.