Be a Santa to a Senior program begins
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Locals have the opportunity to brighten area seniors’ holiday season with the annual Be a Santa to a Senior campaign.
About 28 percent of people 65 or older live alone, according to AARP. Each year, these seniors have fewer family members and friends to provide company and care to them, which often can lead to social isolation.
The holidays can be especially hard for those who are living independently and may feel lonely.
That’s why the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties is inviting 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.
Home Instead Senior Care’s Be a Santa to a Senior holiday campaign is celebrating its 15th year as a nationwide program. In that time, more than 2,600 local seniors have received 13,000 gifts.
With the help of more than 60,000 volunteers across the nation, this holiday program has provided 2 million gifts for seniors around the country – including hundreds in Saratoga Springs.
“Be a Santa to a Senior helps bring comfort and a smile to many seniors. It shows them that people care about them and see them as an important part of the community,” said Maureen Hopkins of the Saratoga Springs Home Instead Senior Care office, in a press release. “Social isolation is a concern among seniors and the holidays often intensify feelings of distance and loneliness.
“When we deliver the gifts and spend some time with them, it makes a big difference.”
Home Instead Senior Care brings the program to life by partnering with area retail stores, nonprofits and local businesses. Retail locations donate space for a Christmas tree with ornaments – each with a gift request (e.g., slippers or a pharmacy gift).
Though these gifts are small, they can make a big impact in seniors’ lives.
Be a Santa to a Senior is a true community program, getting generous support from Saratoga businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community.
The local Home Instead Senior Care office has partnered with Ballston Spa Middle School, Care Links, Doubleday Woods,
Embury Apartments, Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, Raymond Watkins, Saratoga County Office for the Aging, Saratoga Springs High School Honor Society, Solomon Heights, Stonequist, Warren County Office for the Aging and Washington County Office for the Aging to help with gift collection and distribution.
All are encouraged to visit one of the participating locations and look for the Be a Santa to a Senior tree on display from Nov. 16 to Dec. 4. Each tree will be decorated with ornaments featuring seniors’ first names and their desired gifts.
Holiday shoppers can choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it to the store with the ornament attached.
There’s no need to worry about wrapping — community volunteers and program partners will wrap and deliver the gifts to local seniors in time for the holidays.
“We’re always excited to see how much Be a Santa to a Senior boosts seniors’ spirits during the holiday season,” Hopkins added. “And we are grateful to be a part of a community that comes together to make this happen.”
Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations: Price Chopper at 115 Ballston Ave. in Saratoga Springs; Price Chopper at 55 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs; Market 32 by Price Chopper at 3045 Route 50 in Wilton; Saratoga Hospital at 211 Church St. in Saratoga Springs; the Saratoga Regional YMCA: Wilton Branch at 20 Old Gick Road in Wilton; and Queensbury Senior Citizens, Inc. at 742 Bay Road in Queensbury. For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call (518) 580-1042. For more information about how you can help seniors in isolation in your community, visit imreadytocare.com.