'Be a Santa to a Senior' program to help senior citizens celebrate Christmas

published Nov. 22, 2011 - Story by Cody Tucker

Home Instead Senior Care and the Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels are joining together once again for the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program.

The program is a nation-wide program focusing on giving homebound senior citizens the opportunity to celebrate Christmas.

The program is designed to give back to the seniors in need, as well as to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays. The program runs through Friday, Dec. 9.

“We are fortunate to be the beneficiary of the ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ program,” said Manuela Arroyos, the CEO of Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, in a press release. “With the generosity of our community businesses and volunteers, we can give our homebound seniors the Christmas they truly deserve.”

This year, more than 600 ornaments for the program will be distributed to local businesses. Each ornament contains two to three wish gifts from a senior.

Individuals interested in participating in the program are asked to pick up an ornament from an area business, purchase the items on the ornaments and return the gifts in gift bags with the ornament attached to the business it originated from by Thursday, Dec. 1.

For ornament locations and addresses, visit www.BeASantaToASenior.com.

All presents will then be delivered to Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels for distribution to the seniors before Christmas.

Image 1 of 2

Janiss Stump - Camden Royal Oaks, Clemencia Patino - Camden Royaol Oaks, Casey Garcia - The Vosswood, Rhonda Burd - The Concierge, Shalonda Fleming -Camden Royal Oaks, Manuela Arroyos- CEO Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, Susan Whitacre - Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, Kristin Weiss - Fort Bend Seniors Meals on Wheels, Noelle Lopez - HealthSouth Sugar Land Rehabilitation Hospital, Susan Ayling - Home Instead Senior Care