By S.D. Blackmore
For The Salisbury Post
The holiday season is an especially difficult time to be without family, but many North Carolina seniors find themselves alone this time of year. That’s why Home Instead Senior Care is teaming up with Walgreen’s through the “Be A Santa To A Senior” program, bringing a little extra Christmas to these men and women.
Now in its fifth year, Home Instead has identified needy and “orphaned” seniors, and provided wish list ornaments for them. From now through Dec. 10, the Walgreen’s stores in Salisbury will each have a Christmas tree with the paper ornaments, providing a senior’s first name and a list of 3-5 items he or she would like to receive this year.
While we may be used to seeing wishes for Playstations or iMacs, Home Instead’s community service director Robin Perry says many of these seniors ask for basics such as socks, slippers, blankets, and other common items. However, those who distributed the gifts last year will assure you they are anything but common to those who receive them.
Many of the beneficiaries have no close family and receive few, if any, visitors during the holidays. To someone without family, a simple pair of slippers can make a wonderful Christmas.
Nationwide, the program has delivered more than 930,000 Christmas gifts to 568,055 seniors in the last four years alone. Last year, more than 100 seniors in Rowan County unwrapped presents they would not have received without the aid of “Be A Santa To A Senior.” However the seniors aren’t the only ones who get joy out of this project.
Perry tells the story of one woman participating in the program last year who selected an ornament from a man who wanted a bird feeder. This simple request reminded her of time spent with her father, and she searched for the best feeder available.This year, she’s already requested to be the same man’s Santa again.
Home Instead also encourages businesses to contribute by adopting groups of seniors.
In addition to contributing gift items,volunteers are also needed for gift-wrapping. Details of the gift-wrapping party will be announced later.
For information on the time and place of the gift-wrapping party, contributing as a business or anything else regarding “Be A Santa To A Senior,” please contact Robin Perry at (704) 636-2010, or please visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.
To pick up an ornament, please visit any one of the Walgreen’s stores:
– 1906 W. Innes St.
– 705 Jake Alexander Blvd.
– Corner of N.C. 52 and Bendix Drive.