As the community prepares to celebrate the season of giving, Home Instead® encourages North Shore residents to share the holiday spirit with older adults who may not have family and feel alone. Through Be a Santa to a Senior®, community members can give a special holiday gift to an older adult who may otherwise go without.
“A simple gift can bring such joy to older adults who may not have loved ones to celebrate with,” said Janet Hassell, owner of the West Vancouver Home Instead office. “Through Be a Santa to a Senior, we can help them feel the holiday spirit.”
This year program coordinators hope to collect 1400 gifts for local older adults. This is the program’s 12th year in the area.
To participate, shoppers can look for Be a Santa to a Senior trees or displays at locations around the area. Ornaments featuring the name and desired gift of an older adult will be on display, and shoppers can buy the requested gift and return it to the location with the ornament attached. Ornaments will be available from now until December 9th. The gifts will be delivered to local older adults in time for the holidays.
‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ trees can be found at the following locations:
Home Instead North Shore office
IGA Esplanade
Lynn Valley Centre
“This program is so much more than gift-giving – it’s about the special moments and joy shared between the older adults and the community around them,” said Hassell. “There is nothing better than seeing the smile on an older adult’s face when they open their gift.”
‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ is a true community program, with support from local businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers, and members of the community. The Home Instead office serving the North Shore has partnered with local organizations like the BC Law Society and Hollyburn Country Club to help with gift collection and distribution.
Since the program’s inception in 2003, Be a Santa to a Senior has mobilized more than 65,000 volunteers, provided approximately 2.2 million gifts, and brightened the season for more than 750,000 deserving older adults nationwide. For more information visit BeaSantatoaSenior.ca or call (604) 925-1570.
