The Home Instead Senior Care invites the community to come together to provide gifts and holiday cheer to seniors who may be isolated from friends or family this holiday season through its Be a Santa to a Senior® program.
Daviess County’s tree is on display at Home Instead Senior Care’s office at 4026 Frederica Street. The tree features ornaments with seniors’ first names and their desired gifts. Holiday shoppers can choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it to the office with the ornament attached.
Community volunteers and program partners will wrap and deliver the gifts to local seniors in time for the holidays. Last year, more than 800 local seniors received gifts.
“Be a Santa to a Senior helps bring comfort and a smile to many seniors,” said Stephen Bryson, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Owensboro. “It shows them that people care about them and see them as an important part of the community.”
According to AARP, 28 percent of people 65 or older live alone and have fewer family members and friends to provide company and care to them, which often leads to social isolation.
“Social isolation is a concern among seniors and the holidays often intensify feelings of distance and loneliness,” Bryson said. “When we deliver the gifts and spend some time with them, it makes a big difference.”
Be a Santa to a Senior is a true community program, getting generous support from Tri-State area businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community. The local Home Instead Senior Care office has partnered with these groups to help with gift collection and distribution.
“We’re always excited to see how much Be a Santa to a Senior boosts seniors’ spirits during the holiday season,” said Bryson. “And we are grateful to be a part of a community that comes together to make this happen.”
Ornaments can be selected through Dec. 18.
For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 270-689-2300.
