Senior Gift Requests Expected to Increase This Holiday as Economic Slump Continues
Be a Santa to a Senior, the popular campaign that has delivered 1.2 million gifts to needy seniors throughout North America in the past six years, is gearing up again this holiday season during a time when seniors may need more of the bare necessities to survive.
The Home Instead Senior Care® office serving Tulsa has joined the Tulsa Area Office on Aging, Sodexo Senior Nutrition Program, Kmart and Drysdales Western Wear to provide presents to seniors who otherwise might not receive a gift this holiday season.
Program sponsors expect gift requests to be up this year as the economic downturn continues and Social Security benefits fail to keep pace with daily living expenses.
“Most people aren’t aware that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of seniors in every community who have no family and are alone,” said Andrew Garrean, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office. “What’s more, this holiday season finds many older adults struggling to make ends meet.”
Prior to the holiday season, the participating local non-profit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors in the community and provide those names to Home Instead Senior Care. Christmas trees, which will go up in the locations listed below on Nov. 8, feature ornaments with the first names only of the seniors and their respective gift requests.
Tree Locations:
Kmart
-3132 East 51st St.
Drysdales Western Wear
-10127 East. 71st St.
-3220 South Memorial Dr.
Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and just leave them at the store, along with the ornament attached. Volunteers will then collect, wrap and deliver the gifts to area seniors.
“Be a Santa to a Senior is a way to show our gratitude to those older adults who have contributed so much to our community,” Garrean said. “We hope to reach out to many with this gesture of holiday cheer and goodwill.”
For more information about the program, call 918-384-0980 or log on to www.beasantatoasenior.com.
Updated 12-07-2010
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