Be a Santa to a Senior

At a time when it may be more important than ever, Home Instead’s seasonal favorite Be a Santa to a Senior returns stronger than ever.

Program coordinators evaluated the important holiday program and made adjustments with the safety of donors, seniors and volunteers in mind. With local seniors more isolated than ever because of concerns due to the virus, this year, extra precautions will be taken so gifts can be safely collected and delivered to seniors in need.

“The Be a Santa to a Senior program brings so much joy to seniors in our community,” said Charlie Holder, owner of the Beaumont Home Instead office. “Seniors are especially at risk for the feelings of isolation that we’ve all felt at some point during the pandemic, and a simple gift can show them that they have been thought of, which is more important this year than ever.”

Be a Santa to a Senior relies on the generous support of the Beaumont community and volunteers, as well as area businesses, nonprofit organizations, and retailers. This year Home Instead has partnered with Nutrition Service Center, Orange County Meals on Wheels, CVS, Walgreens, King Pharmacy, Ace Hardware, Bronze, Market Basket and several other pharmacies, restaurants and businesses in the area.

It’s easy to help. Members of the community can visit BeASantatoaSenior.com and enter their zip code to find one of the 72 participating locations where there will be a Be a Santa to a Senior tree on display from Nov. 15 to Dec. 23. Each tree will be decorated with ornaments featuring seniors’ first names and gift suggestions. Holiday shoppers can choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it unwrapped to the store with the ornament attached.

“We need the community’s help more than ever to make sure seniors feel connected this year,” said Holder. “This year we knew we had to find a way to spread holiday cheer to seniors, and we are grateful for the community’s participation.”

Since the program’s creation in 2003, Be a Santa to a Senior® has provided approximately 2.1 million gifts and with the help of more than 75,000 volunteers, brightened the season for more than 750,000 deserving seniors nationwide. With adjustments, Home Instead will be able to continue the annual gift-giving program while following social distancing and safety precautions during COVID-19.

Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations:

• CVS
• Walgreens
• King Pharmacy
• Market Basket

For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call (409) 892-7494.

For ideas and inspiration around helping seniors in your community, visit ReadytoCare.com.

About Home Instead

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States, Canada and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.