Santa came a little early to seniors at Brightmoor Nursing Center thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior program sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care of Salisbury. This was the first year the Salisbury office provided the gift program to community seniors.
“We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of the people here in Salisbury,” said Jena Hare, director of operations of Home Instead Senior Care. “They have gone above and beyond to make Christmas for many of our more needy seniors a truly happy holiday.”
The program started in early December when trees adorned with Be a Santa to a Senior ornaments went on display in the three local Walgreen’s stores. Folks were asked to take an ornament and buy the suggested items on each one ó their “wish list” ó then return them to the store. Home Instead Senior Care staff then collected the gifts and got them wrapped. “Our conference room was wall to wall with gifts,” said Kristina Baker, office administrator.
Each senior received his or her very own gift, plus a Christmas card made by the youth at Community Baptist Church. “The spirit of Christmas was within Brightmoor, it is the best Christmas they have ever had,” said Cindy Scott, administrator.
Gifts were also delivered to needy residents at Liberty Commons and the VA.
Home Instead Senior Care offices throughout the U.S. have been providing this program since 2003. Last year, 196,500 seniors across North America received 312,500 gifts through the program, while 21,000 volunteers supported the effort during last year’s holiday season with 1,500 locations across North America hosting a tree.