The Be a Santa to a Senior holiday program in your area will be ending soon, Dec. 11. The program is being carried out in partnership between Home Instead Senior Care, volunteers and members of the community to collect and deliver gifts to lonely and needy seniors in your area.
This season, holiday shoppers in Berks County can give cheer to area seniors by participating in the Be a Santa to a Senior program.
The program – sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care of Berks County in partnership with Berks County Area Agency on Aging and Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex – helps ensure isolated seniors receive gifts and companionship during the holidays. This can be a difficult time for many, especially those who live alone or have lost spouses and loved ones.
An estimated 27 percent of people 65 and older (10.8 million people) are widowed, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Further, the Administration on Aging reports about 28 percent (11.8 million) non-institutionalized people 65 and older live alone.
Retailers participating in Be a Santa to a Senior will display Christmas trees from Nov. 1 to Dec. 11 that feature ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick an ornament from these trees, buy the items listed and return them wrapped or in a bag to the Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex, with the ornament attached.
Two Be a Santa to a Senior gift trees will be located at Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex, 3103 Paper Mill Rd., in Wyomissing. Home Instead Senior Care-Berks County will collect gifts for delivery to the Area Agency on Aging for local seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.
‘Be a Santa to a Senior gives back to older adults in our area, many of whom have had significant, positive influence on our lives,’ said Jennifer Moyer, owner at the local Home Instead Senior Care office. ‘During this season of giving, we encourage shoppers to buy a little extra to say thank you to these community members in need.’
For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call Home Instead-Berks County at 610-372-2500 or Body Zone Sports and Wellness Complex at 610-376-2100.