In a year that it may be more important than ever, Home Instead’s “Be a Santa to a Senior” program invites the community to provide gifts and cheer to seniors who may be isolated this holiday season.
Program coordinators evaluated the holiday program and made adjustments with the safety of donors, seniors and volunteers in mind.
For the first time in the program’s 17-year history, along with traditional trees with gift-request ornaments, Home Instead is teaming up with Amazon Business to create a contactless gift-giving experience for volunteers and recipients.
Members of the community can visit one of these locations and look for the “Be a Santa to a Senior” tree on display:
- Walmart, 5031 Frederica St., Owensboro
- Home Instead Senior Care, 4026 Frederica St., Owensboro
- Home Instead Senior Care, 226 North Elm St., Henderson
The trees will be up through Dec. 14 and are decorated with ornaments featuring seniors’ first names and gift suggestions. Holiday shoppers can choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it unwrapped to the store or office with the ornament attached.
Donors can also visit beasantatoasenior.com and enter their zip code to view Wish Lists which are available on Amazon Business through Dec. 14. A personalized greeting can be included with the gift, which will be safely delivered to the senior.
“The ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ program brings so much joy to seniors in our community,” said Stephen Bryson, owner of the Owensboro Home Instead office. “We’ve all felt isolated at some point during the pandemic, but seniors are especially at risk of feeling isolated and a simple gift can show them that we are thinking of them. And that’s more important this year than ever.”
Since the program’s creation in 2003, “Be a Santa to a Senior” has provided approximately 2.1 million gifts and for more than 750,000 seniors nationwide. With adjustments, Home Instead will be able to continue the annual gift-giving program while following social distancing and safety precautions during COVID-19.
For more information about the program, visit beasantatoasenior.com or call 270-689-2300.
