Sweaters, socks and shampoo might not make the average wish list to Santa, but for some Tucson seniors, those simple items can bring holiday cheer.
The “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care, is working with about 20 senior-care organizations to set up small trees in businesses around Tucson later this month. From those trees, shoppers can pick an ornament with a name and requested item and then donate that gift to be wrapped by volunteers.
“I don’t think people mean to, but seniors get overlooked,” said Tormay Newman, coordinator of the program for Home Instead. “Everybody enjoys being touched by the holidays.”
The organization’s franchises provide nonmedical, in-home assistance to senior adults. Last year, “Be a Santa to a Senior” provided about 3,000 gifts to 2,000 people in Pima County. Many shoppers buy more than one item for the recipient on their ornament.
Santa and his elves have been delivering the gifts to homebound seniors in Tucson since 2005. The local franchise partners with Love Thy Neighbor Ministries and others to purchase, wrap and deliver gifts.
When the Northwest Outriders, a 4-H group, go with Bonnie Hatley to the adult-care facilities at Miracle Square, 2601 N. Oracle Road, and The Oasis at El Corral, 2721 N. Oracle Road, the kids fight over who wears the elf costumes.
“They like to see the smiles on people’s faces,” Hatley said of the group that accompanies Santa to the facilities. “It’s not even the gift. It’s just having the visitor. Some of these people haven’t seen a Santa for 75 years, and they just have a glow on their faces.”
