Nancy Foss has worked as a Community Service Representative for Home Instead Senior Care for the last 6 1/2 years. Part of her duties as a CSR is to organize and carry out the Be a Santa to a Senior Program for Home Instead.
Each Year, Home Instead Senior Care franchise offices throughout North America brighten the holidays for lonely or financially-challenged seniors by providing gifts and companionship through the Be a Santa to a Senior program.
While donated gifts beautifully wrapped in festive paper are important to this community outreach, the true value of the program is evident on the recipients’ faces and in their sincerre words of gratitude to the “Santa” who cared enough to make them feel special.
Since introducing the program in 2003, the Home Instead Senior Care network has helped provide two million gifts with smiles to more than 1,000,000 seniors.
How the Program Works
Home Instead Senior Care franchise offices partner with local senior care facilities, non-profit organizations and other community groups to identify seniors who might not otherwise receive a special gift or visit this holiday season. Then, partnering retail locations and local businesses will display trees decorated with gift tags featuring the name of the senior and gift request. Shoppers and patrons can select a tag, purchase the requested item, and return them to the store. To find a retailer, go to beasantatoasenior.com.
After the collection of gift donations, Home Instead Senior Care franchise offices enlist the help of community volunteers to wrap and distribute the gifts. This year’s wrapping party will be Thursday, December 7th from 10:00 a.m. until all the gifts are wrapped at The Renaissance Center in Wake Forest.