To the Editor:
During the holidays, there are many requests to help those in need. There are Toys for Tots and Angel Trees for children, but what about lonely seniors without family or support?
This was the 10th year of the Be A Santa To A Senior Program sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care franchise serving Chatham, Jasper and Beaufort counties. The names and wishes of lonely seniors are provided to Home Instead by area agencies or care communities.
Home Instead then partners with local businesses and organizations whose members, employees and customers take the names and fill the wishes. Each Christmas gift bag is carefully checked to see that all wishes have been filled, gifts are wrapped at wrapping parties and then delivered.
The joy in the seniors’ faces when they receive the gifts and realize that they have not been forgotten is priceless. Without the generous support of compassionate community members, this program would not be possible. It truly is a project that personifies the good in people who care about strangers who are less fortunate.
In December, we were privileged to deliver over 3,934 gifts to 640 seniors and are so grateful for all of Santa’s helpers and those who provided storage space for Santa’s workshops.
We want to especially thank our hosts: CPM in Beaufort, Curves in Bluffton, CoastalStates banks, Stephen Ministry of Church of the Cross, Apple a Day, Markel’s Card and Gift Shop, Hilton Head Senior Center and Palmetto Self Storage for Santa’s workshop. Also in Sun City, the Villages of Alexandria, Okatie, Willow Brook, and the Pets, Plants and Pals club.
Rachel Carson
Owner, Home Instead Savannah
