As the community prepares to celebrate the season of giving, Home Instead® encourages residents of Central New Hampshire 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 Caitlin Cawley, Director of Community Engagement of the Manchester Home Instead office. “Through Be a Santa to a Senior, we can help them feel the holiday spirit.”
Last year, more than 300 older adults in Hillsborough and Merrimack counties received gifts thanks to the community’s generous support. This year program coordinators hope to collect 350 gifts for local older adults. This is the program’s 16th 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 gift ideas for older adults will be on display, and shoppers can buy the requested gift and return it wrapped in a gift bag to the location with the ornament attached. Ornaments will be available through Dec. 13. 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:
- Chalifour’s Flowers, 46 Elm Street Manchester NH
- Tony Capraro III State Farm Insurance, 510 Kelley Street Manchester NH
- Planet Fitness, 89 Fort Eddy Road Concord NH
- Home Instead, 100A Middle Street Manchester NH
- John Whitaker Place, 30 Borough Road Concord NH
“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 Cawley. “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 Central New Hampshire has partnered with Community Action Program to help with gift collection and distribution. For more information visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 603-668-6868.
