Santa isn’t just for kids this Christmas, with Home Instead Senior Care network’s “Be a Santa to a Senior” program.
“At Christmastime a lot of the focus is on children, which is wonderful and they obviously deserve a merry Christmas, but there are seniors who don’t get anything; not a card, not a smile, so we want to bring some holiday cheer to people not receiving anything at this time,” said Maureen Hopkins of Home Instead Senior Care in Saratoga Springs.
For the past eight years, Christmas trees with tagged ornaments have been displayed at locations around Saratoga County. The first name of a senior and their wish list is attached to each ornament and all shoppers have to do to become Santa is pick an ornament.
“Community members go pick ornaments off a tree site, go shopping and return the gift to our office or the tree site,” said Hopkins.
The targeted seniors are those who can barely make ends meet, with Home Instead Senior Care reaching out to various agencies for names, and their wish lists tend to be practical.
“Most of the things are smaller items like stamps, socks, clothing items and books,” said Hopkins.
The community response has been “overwhelming,” said Hopkins, with people stepping up to help their needy elderly neighbors.
“The past couple years we’ve had managers at Price Chopper say shoppers come in a week or two before our trees go up to make sure we’re doing the program again,” said Hopkins. “They’re aware of us and looking for us and are overly generous.”
The contribution of little gifts is cause enough for appreciation, said Hopkins, but there’s been at least one person that took Santa to the extreme.
“We had one request two years ago, there was a senior sleeping on a futon and it was hurting his hips to the point where he might have needed surgery so he requested a bed,” said Hopkins.
She didn’t think anyone would come through with the bed because of the cost, so she put one big ornament on every tree at each tree site.
“We got a call from a woman who said the bed was taken care of. … She got sheets, comforter, pillows and wanted to set it up for him,” said Hopkins.
Once all the gifts are collected, the Honor Society at Saratoga Springs High School wraps the presents and a volunteer delivers them to the different agencies.
“We’ve had thank you letters pour in like crazy. For some people, it’s the only thing they get all year-round,” said Hopkins. “Some people are really in need and ask for things not covered by food stamps.”
Even with the poor economy, Hopkins said the community continues to give.
“We really felt the impact in our community last year with the economy but the first gift I picked up was a $200 gift certificate,” said Hopkins. “People were trying to tighten their belts and were the most generous they’ve ever been. Maybe in tough times they realize people have it even tougher than them.
There are about 300 Home Instead Senior Care franchises across the country that challenge their communities to “Be a Santa to a Senior” each year, and 1.5 million gifts have been delivered throughout North America through the campaign.
Hopkins said the program is an important one to run each year.
“We take care of seniors so obviously seniors are near and dear to our hearts,” said Hopkins. “Our seniors generally are not needy and lonely since most are private pay clients but we wanted to be able to give back.”
Home Instead Senior Care provides non-medical in-home care services for seniors.
Christmas trees will be displayed from Friday, Nov. 18, through Dec. 9. Tree locations in Saratoga will be the Price Chopper on Ballston Avenue in Saratoga Springs, Price Chopper at Church Street and Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs, Price Chopper on Route 50 in Wilton, Saratoga Hospital in the cafeteria, The Greater Glens Falls Senior Citizens Center, Inc., Queensbury Senior Citizens, Inc. and Capital District YMCA Southern Saratoga Branch in Clifton Park. For more information about the campaign visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.
