AUSTIN, TX- At a time when it may be more important than ever, Home Instead’s® seasonal favorite Be a Santa to a Senior returns stronger than ever with new options for community participation.
Program coordinators evaluated the important holiday program and made adjustments with the safety of donors, seniors and volunteers in mind. With local seniors more isolated than ever because of concerns due to the virus, this year, for the first time in the program’s 17-year history, Home Instead is teaming up with Amazon Business, to create a contactless gift-giving experience for volunteers and recipients. Home Instead will collect gifts for area seniors through both online shopping through Amazon and at local trees inside Walmart.
“The Be a Santa to a Senior program brings so much joy to seniors in our community,” said Tyson Murphy, owner of the Round Rock Home Instead office. “Seniors are especially at risk for the feelings of isolation that we’ve all felt at some point during the pandemic, and a simple gift can show them that they have been thought of, which is more important this year than ever.”
Be a Santa to a Senior relies on the generous support of the local communities and volunteers, as well as area businesses, nonprofit organizations, and retailers. This year Home Instead has partnered with local Walmart Supercenters as host of the Be a Santa to a Senior trees, as well as Jarrell Elementary, Igo Elementary and Double File Trail Elementary who will have students decorate the holiday gift bags for the seniors, and First Baptist Georgetown who will host the gift wrapping party.
It’s easy to help. Members of the community can either visit one of the participating locations listed below and look for the Be a Santa to a Senior tree on display from November 13th to December 15th. Each tree will be decorated with ornaments featuring seniors’ first names and gift suggestions. Holiday shoppers can choose an ornament, buy the requested gift and return it unwrapped to the store with the ornament attached. Shoppers can also visit BeASantatoaSenior.com and enter their zip code to view Wish Lists for local seniors in the area which are available on Amazon Business. A personalized greeting can be included with the gift which will be shipped to Home Instead where it will be safely delivered to the senior.
“We need the community’s help more than ever to make sure seniors feel connected this year,” said Murphy. “This year we knew we had to find a way to spread holiday cheer to seniors, and we are grateful for the community’s participation.”
Since the program’s creation in 2003, Be a Santa to a Senior® has provided approximately 2.1 million gifts and with the help of more than 75,000 volunteers, brightened the season for more than 750,000 deserving seniors nationwide. With adjustments, Home Instead will be able to continue the annual gift-giving program while following social distancing and safety precautions during COVID-19.
Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations:
Walmart Supercenter, 620 S I-35, Georgetown, TX 78628
Walmart Supercenter, 1548 Farm to Market 685, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Walmart Supercenter, 4700 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665
For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 512-374-1414.
For ideas and inspiration around helping seniors in your community, visit ReadytoCare.com.
