Etobicoke: 11/23/2014 This season, many Etobicoke seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior® program. Sponsored by the Home Instead Etobicoke office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.
“It is heartbreaking to think of the senior members of our community spending the holidays all by themselves, without any gifts or any way to celebrate the season,” says Brenda Enright, owner of the Home Instead office serving Etobicoke. “But all too often, that’s what happens when seniors live alone. It can be a really tough time of year for them.”
Home Instead has partnered with Etobicoke Services For Seniors and Trillium Health Partners to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect 186 gifts in order to help more than 150 Etobicoke area seniors this holiday season.
Participating retail locations will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees from November 17th to December 8th that feature ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.
Be a Santa to a Senior trees will be located at Shoppers Home Health Care at Six Points Plaza 5230 Dundas St. W and Tapestry Village Gate West at 15 Summerland Terrace.
Program partners and volunteers will wrap and distribute the gifts to local seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.
“During this season of giving, we encourage shoppers to buy a little extra for a local senior,” said Enright. “Your gift – and more importantly the visit that comes with the delivery – could make their holiday season.”
For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.ca or call (416) 239-2200.
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