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Portage County: 'Be a Santa to a Senior' begins ... Tree ornaments feature names, needs of area older adults for holidays

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Laura Nethken
November 20, 2009

Now in its sixth year, the "Be a Santa to a Senior" program, sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care, brightens the lives of needy older adults with gifts and companionship.

Home Instead Senior Care, whose caregivers provide home care and companionship to seniors, has teamed with local senior agencies to identify seniors in the community who would not otherwise receive a gift or visitor this holiday season.

"Many of these seniors are on fixed incomes as well and their wants are truly needs," said Therese Glorioso, registered nurse of Home Instead Senior Care. Seniors have asked for such simple items as new slippers, warm pajamas and home cleaning supplies.

"In addition to supplying gifts, 'Be a Santa to a Senior' is also designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for seniors who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays," said Glorioso, who is president of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Portage County.

Christmas trees are currently located at Giant Eagle in Streetsboro, Ravenna and Rootstown; Kent/Ravenna
Walmart, Arabica in Streetsboro, Dr. Tomko's office in Aurora, senior centers in Ravenna, Streetsboro and Aurora; Aurora Premium Outlets; and Crossroads Hospice. The trees feature ornaments with the first names of a senior and their respective gift requests.

Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy the items on the list and leave them at the store along with the ornament attached. Home Instead Senior Care will enlist the volunteer help of its staff, eldercare business associates, nonprofit groups and others in the community to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to these seniors. A city-wide gift-wrapping day, when hundreds of the presents will be wrapped for seniors, will be held on Dec. 9.

Last year, 200 seniors in Portage County received more than 400 gifts through this program. In 2006, Home Instead Senior Care was recognized with the prestigious Pillar Award for Community Service for this special program.

For more information on this program, contact Annette Balis, community service representative for Home Instead Senior Care, at 330-995-1522.

 

(photo)

Gearing up for this year's "Be a Santa to a Senor" program are Theresa Dash, left, and Lisa Little of Home Instead Senior Care.

 




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