Bring cheer to area’s lonely seniors

We think at this time of year about children who might otherwise not receive presents, attention or a little cheer for the holidays. But they are not only ones forgotten.

There are needy and isolated senior citizens in our midst. This becomes especially clear around the holidays. You can help bring some cheer to an elderly person’s life by participating in the Be a Santa to a Senior program.

Jeanne McCusker, owner of the local office of Home Instead Senior Care, which sets up the local program, said they have a list of more than 500 senior citizens who need gifts this year. The recipients are identified by the Salvation Army, Albemarle Social Services, Charlottesville Social Services and Meals on Wheels.

No visitors

The seniors are in private homes and in facilities. She pointed out that statistics show that 50 percent of residents of nursing homes will never have a visitor.

“And, they are counting there — what happens in the home,” McCusker said. “Everybody forgets about them; it’s all about the kids. Of course they are important, but we don’t want to forget [the senior citizens].”

From now through Dec. 12, you can go to a Christmas tree at Volvo of Charlottesville, Sam’s Club, In Vino Veritas and Our Lady of Peace to pick up an ornament with the name of a senior citizen and his or her gift request.

Purchase the item and return it unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament. Home Instead Senior Care will enlist volunteer help from its staff, business associates and others to wrap and distribute the gifts.

Basic needs

McCusker said the gift requests are not fancy or expensive — there are none for wide-screen televisions. Instead, they are “basic, day-to-day items.” Requests include sweaters, a toaster, depends, food baskets, gifts for pets.

One person requested writing paper, stamps and pens, while another woman asked for Ponds cold cream, U-shaped bobby pins and thigh highs. One man wants anything with the Philadelphia Eagles on it.

Last year, the program collected, wrapped and delivered 2,000 gifts.

“I tend to drive a moving truck around the week of Christmas,” McCusker said.

This big endeavor takes a lot of helpers. The organization invites members of the community to help wrap the gifts on Dec. 10 in a community gift-wrapping party. She said the group also welcomes anyone who wants to help deliver the presents.

Home Instead Senior Care is a national

provider of non-medical home care and companionship for older adults. Nationally, the program has provided 930,000 gifts to 568,055 senior citizens in North America. McCusker said the goal nationally this year is 1 million gifts.

“Be a Santa to a Senior is a fulfilling way to say thanks to those older adults who have helped build our community,” said McCusker. “[The program] is also designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.”

McCusker remembers one year taking a gift to an 88-year-old woman who lived around the corner from her. The woman said it was the first year she had not received a gift to open.

For more information, call 979-4663 or check out the Web site at www.

beasantatoasenior.com. 

If you don’t want to shop, McCusker said they also will accept your tax deductible donation and do the shopping for you.