Be a Santa to a Senior

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The annual “Be a Santa to a Senior” program kicked off today. The program encourages people from the community to buy a gift for a senior, or anyone else who will be alone this Christmas.

The Christmas tree at St.Peters Hospital is full of special decorations. Each tag has the name of a person who doesn’t have anyone to buy them a present this Christmas.

Jeremy Grant from Home Instead Senior Care says “Its just about finding people for one reason or another that would fall through the cracks this holiday season. Whether their family isn’t local, available or engaged. So we help out.”

The “Be a Santa to a Senior” program not only helps out isolated seniors, but anyone who is in a care facility over the holidays. 40 year old Jason Reid suffered a stroke last year, and won’t be home for Christmas. “It’s a little down at times, you’re thinking about your family and they can’t get out in the weather at times.”

There are trees at St. Peters Hospital, and at Ancaster Community Services. How the program works is you can go to a tree at any of those locations and grab a tag, for example Amber wants a dressy scarf.

Be a Santa to a Senior is run throughout Canada and in 22 countries world wide and it’s the third year in Hamilton, the presents are usually under $25.

Editor’s Note: Following the original broadcast of this item, organizers notified CHCH News of a correction in dates. The last day for gift donation for both trees (St. Peters and Ancaster) is Friday December 11th. The wrapping party however will not be until Thursday, December 17th starting at 9am, at St Peters Foundation.