Give the Gift of Love to a Deserving Senior this Holiday Season
Etobicoke, ON – Nov. 19, 2019 – The holiday season is also the season of giving and a time to share smiles with those around you. As you gather to drink hot cocoa and sing carols with family and friends, it’s important to remember there are seniors in your community who would love to celebrate, too. However, many seniors live alone, without someone to share this special time.
The Home Instead Etobicoke office is once again offering the Etobicoke community a chance to spread joy to local seniors. Through the Be a Santa to a Senior® program, community members can give a senior a special holiday gift. Since the program’s inception in 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. Last year, more than 300 Etobicoke seniors received 300 gifts.
“The Be a Santa to a Senior programis all about including seniors in the joy of the holiday season,” said Brenda Enright, owner of the Etobicoke Home Instead office. “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 Etobicoke businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community. The Home Instead office serving Etobicoke has partnered with Tapestry at Village Gate West, Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart (Six Points Plaza) and ESS Support Services to help with gift collection and distribution.
It’s easy to help. Visit one of the participating locations listed below and look for the Be a Santa to a Senior tree on display from November 18 to December 5. 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 to the tree location with the ornament attached. There’s no need to worry about wrapping — community volunteers and program partners will wrap and deliver the gifts to local seniors in time for the holidays.
“While it may seem like a small act of kindness, it can really make a difference for someone this holiday season,” said Enright. “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.”
Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations:
- Tapestry at Village Gate West, 15 Summerland Terrace , Etobicoke, ON, M9A 0B5
- Wellwise by Shoppers Drug Mart - Six Points Plaza, 5230 Dundas Street W, Etobicoke, ON, M9B 1A8
- ESS Support Services, 2245 Lawrence Ave. West, Etobicoke, ON, M9B 3W3
For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.ca or call (416) 239-2200.
For more information about how you can help seniors in your community, visit imreadytocare.ca
Media Coverage
- Snapd Magazine: Be a Santa to a Senior Launch
- Toronto.com: Etobicoke residents invited to be a Santa to isolated seniors
