AREA SENIORS WHO are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer this season.
This season, many Clark County seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior program.
Sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.
“It is heartbreaking to think of the senior members of our community spending the holidays all by themselves, without any gifts or any way to celebrate the season,” said Julie Williams, president of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Clark County. “But all too often, that’s what happens when seniors live alone. It can be a really tough time of year for them.”
Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Friends of the Elder Justice Center, Prestige Care and Meals on Wheels to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect gifts in order to help 500 area seniors this holiday season.
Participating retail locations will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees from Nov. 24-Dec. 12 that feature ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.
Be a Santa to a Senior trees will be located at:
Mill Creek Pub, 1710 SW 9th Ave, Battle Ground
Riverview Bank – Salmon Creek Branch, 800 NE Tenney Rd, Vancouver
Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery – 13712 NE 10th Ave., Vancouver
Al Angelo Company, 11205 NE 28th St., Vancouver
Riverview Bank – Height’s Branch, 915 MacArthur Blvd., Vancouver
Marshall Center, 1009 E McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver
Firstenburg Community Center, 700 NE 136th Ave., Vancouver
Riverview Community Bank, 320 SE 192nd Ave., Vancouver
Camas Chamber of Commerce, 422 NE 4th Ave., Camas
Washougal Senior Center, 1681 C St., Washougal
Riverview Bank Camas, 700 NE 4th Ave. #100, Camas
Program partners and volunteers will wrap and distribute the gifts to local seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.
“During this season of giving, we encourage shoppers to buy a little extra for a local senior,” said Williams. “Your gift - and more importantly the visit that comes with the delivery – could make their holiday season.”
For more information about the program, visit www.BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call (360) 253-6028.
