Be a Santa to a senior

This season, many Sudbury 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 Lisette Wirta, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Sudbury.

“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 Hart Stores and Big Brother and Big Sister to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect more than 300 gifts in order to help more than 300 Sudbury area seniors this holiday season.

Participating retail locations will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees until Dec. 10, 2014, 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:
-Home Instead Senior Care, 2009 Long Lake Road, Unit 303.
-Hart, 40 Elm Street, Sudbury.
-Hart, 18-4764 Regional Road 15, Chelmsford.
-Hart, 5085 Highway 69 North, Hanmer.

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 Wirta. “Your gift - and more importantly the visit that comes with the delivery – could make their holiday season.”

For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.ca or call 705-523-1600.