North Ridgeville Review The Community That Cares
The Be A Santa to a Senior program gifted Avon Place residents with a little something to open for Christmas.
Now in its 9th year locally, Home Instead Senior Care® serving Lorain County has once again offered the community a chance to spread joy to local seniors. Through the Be a Santa to a Senior® program, community members have rallied to give a senior a special holiday gift. Since 2003, the Be a Santa to a Senior® program has mobilized more than 60,000 volunteers, provided approximately 1.2 million gifts and brightened the season for more than 700,000 deserving seniors nationwide.
“The Be a Santa to a Senior program is all about including seniors in the joy of the holiday season,” said Karin Kollar, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in North Ridgeville. “A simple gift shows them they are a loved and vital member of our community.”
Be a Santa to a Senior is a true community program, with generous support from local businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community. The Home Instead Senior Care office serving Lorain County has partnered with Lorain County Office on Aging, Community Care in North Ridgeville, Village of Wellington Office on Aging, Adult Protective Services, Volunteer Guardianship of Lorain County, Community Resource Services in Avon Lake, Oberlin Senior Center, Neighborhood Alliance and Avon Place in Avon to help with gift collection and distribution.
Jeff Barfield, owner of Tuffy on Cleveland Street in Elyria, donated an afghan that his sister made for him years ago because he felt a senior would enjoy receiving it. “Our parents take care of us for 18 years and some-times more. It means a lot to those seniors that don’t have anybody, but it probably means just as much or more to somebody like myself, that doesn’t have a parent to buy for. It if wasn’t for those people…we wouldn’t be here. It warms my heart to see so many people that enjoy this program.”
The program ran from Nov. 8 – Dec. 5. All you had to do was visit one of the participating locations listed below and look for the Be a Santa to a Senior tree. Each tree was decorated with ornaments featuring seniors’ first names and gift suggestions. Holiday shoppers could choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it to the store with the ornament attached. Community volunteers and program partners wrapped and delivered the gifts.
“While it may seem like a small act of kindness, it can really make a difference for someone this holiday season,” said Kollar. “Watching seniors open the gifts they received through Be a Santa to a Senior and seeing the smiles and appreciation on their faces is one of my favorite parts of the holiday season.”
Last year, more than 225 local seniors received much-appreciated gifts through the program.
Be a Santa to a Senior trees can were found at the following locations:
- Amy’s Hallmark Shop, Avon Commons 35910 Detroit Rd., Avon
- Avon Brewing Company, 37040 Detroit Rd., Avon
- Bread and Brew, 100 South Main St., Wellington
- Home Instead Senior Care, 35590 Center Ridge Rd. #101, North Ridgeville
- Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center, 165 Cleveland St., Elyria
- Tuffy Tire and Auto Service Center, 649 Leona St., Elyria
- Village Market, 816 North Main St., Wellington
For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 440-353-3080.
For more information about how you can help seniors in your community, visit imreadytocare.com. Remember this great cause for next year!
