Pennsylvania Seniors Create Handmade Ornaments for the State Capitol Holiday Tree

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Aging announced that visitors to the State Capitol Main Rotunda during the holiday season can check out handmade ornaments hung on the holiday tree that were created by Pennsylvania seniors.

Older adults from more than 70 Senior Community Centers in 35 counties across the commonwealth submitted ornaments in response to an annual request by the department. The tree will remain in the rotunda through the first week of January.

"The Department of Aging is pleased to see the tremendous response of ornaments submitted from the senior centers. Many of the centers expressed their appreciation for the opportunity offered to older adults to create the ornaments," said Secretary of Aging Robert Torres. "Every year, the seniors get into the holiday spirit and use their creativity and talent in making ornaments that are unique to each senior center. Each ornament is unique and embodies the pride of being ‘made in PA' along with the holiday tree that comes from a Pennsylvania tree farm. I extend our thanks to all of the seniors who contributed ornaments as part of this annual holiday tradition."

Here is a list of Senior Community Centers that submitted holiday ornaments:

• Allegheny County – Caring Heights Community Care and Rehab, Vintage, Inc.

• Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging – submitted on behalf of the participating

Senior Community Centers, Coalport Center for Active Living

• Columbia County – Bloomsburg Senior Center, Catawissa Senior Center

• Cumberland County – Big Spring Senior Center, Schaner Senior Center

• Delaware County – Good Neighbor Senior Center, Surrey Services for Seniors, Havertown

• Fayette County – Masontown Senior Center, Smithfield Colonials Community Center, Uniontown Adult Recreation Center

• Franklin County Area Agency on Aging – submitted on behalf of the participating Senior Community Centers

• Fulton County – Hustontown Senior Center

• Greene County – Waynesburg Community

Center

• Indiana County – Mahoning Hills Social Center

• Jefferson County – Heritage House

• Lackawanna County – Fallbrook Healthy Aging Campus

• Lancaster County – Millersville Senior Center

• Lawrence County – Challenges-option in Aging

• Lebanon County – Myerstown Senior Community Center

• Lehigh County – Cedar View Senior Center

• Mckean County – Smethport Senior Center

• Mifflin-juniata County Area Agency on Aging – submitted on behalf of the participating Senior Community Centers

• Monroe County – Barrett Senior Center, Loder Senior Center

• Montgomery County – MONTCO Saac-norristown

• Northumberland County – Herndon Adult Community Center

• Perry County – Central Perry Community Senior Citizens Center

• Philadelphia County – The Center at Journey's Way, Juniata Park Older Adult Center, Kleinlife Northeast Philadelphia, Lutheran Settlement House Senior Center

• Snyder County – Selinsgrove Senior Center

• Tioga County – Wellsboro Active Living Center

• Venango County – Cranberry Place Senior Center

• Washington County – Bentworth Senior Citizens Center, Canonsburg Senior Center

• Wayne County

Area Agency on Aging – submitted on behalf of the participating Senior Community Centers, Hamlin Senior Center

• Westmoreland County – Avonmore Center for Active Adults, Mount Pleasant Center for Active Adults, New Alexandria Center for Active Adults, New Florence center for Active Adults, Valley Center for Active Adults

• York County – South Central York County Senior Center, Windy Hill Senior Center

Individuals can get a closer look at the ornaments made by the older adults, as well as information about resources and programs for seniors, by visiting the Department of Aging's Facebook page.