Local Program Brightens the Holidays for Mississauga Seniors
Mississauga: 11/15/2015. This season, many Mississauga 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 Mississauga 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 Greg Bechard, owner of the Home Instead office serving Mississauga. “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 Trillium Health Partners and Alzheimer Society of Peel to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect 298 gifts in order to help Mississauga area seniors this holiday season.
Participating retail locations will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees from November 16th to December 10th 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 Keller Williams Realty, 103 Lakeshore Road E, and Mississauga Seniors' Centre, 1389 Cawthra Road.
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 Bechard. “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 (905) 276-2273.
Home Care Mississauga ON for seniors and elderly choosing to stay home instead.
"Call for a free personalized Care Consultation (905) 276-2273"
Media Coverage
City TV: Strangers play Santa for seniors
Snapd Mississauga: Be a Santa to a Senior Mississauga
