Active aging
December 2014 • Vol. 36-No. 1
January 2004 • Vol. 25-No.2
Informing 112,000 55+ readers Southcentral Kansas Serving 80,000 Readers in in South Central Kansas
Happy Holidays! Questions About Services? Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick Counties) 1-855-200-2372 or call your county Department on Aging Harvey County 284-6880 1-800-750-7993 Butler County 775-0500 1-800-279-3655 Active Aging: 316-942-5385
Courtesy photos
John Reisch puts the finishing touches on a package for the “Be A Santa to a Senior” program. Volunteers from Prairie Homestead wrapped 600 gifts for residents of long-term care facilities last year.
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‘Be A Santa to a Senior’ spreads holiday cheer By Soli Salgado A tower of wrapped gifts will be delivered to residents in five Wichita senior living facilities this holiday season. For many, the present they receive that day from a stranger may be their only Christmas gift. Seven years ago, Home Instead Senior Care, an international home care provider, launched “Be a Santa to a Senior,” a gift donation program. In the Wichita area Santa trees are at Dillons stores at 21st and Maize, Central and Rock Rd., and Kellogg and Andover Road. Anyone can contribute by picking an ornament from the Christmas tree and buying the specified item. “We noticed that seniors don’t get a lot of attention this time of year, when the focus is usually on kids,” said Michael Steinberg, CEO of the local Home Instead office. “We really felt
that this neglected part of our population could use a little bit of higher spirits during the season.” The gifts they request range from Wichita State sports gear, Bibles and 24-packs of Dr. Pepper to soap, deodorant or socks. Steinberg, who delivers the gifts with staff and volunteers wearing Santa hats, said that the homes have a party-like atmosphere when they receive the gifts, and that the gratitude in the room is obvious. “Sometimes these gifts are met with tears,” he said. “It’s a really humbling feeling to do something that for us is relatively simple and have it mean that much to someone who maybe hasn’t received a present for the holidays in years.” Steinberg emphasized that this program would not be possible without the
kindness of the community. It can succeed when people go to a Dillons store, adopt a senior and get something to brighten their day, he added. The seniors who receive the gifts aren’t the only ones benefitting from the exchange. Resident volunteers at Prairie Homestead Senior Living transform an area into Santa’s Workshop where they wrap the donated gifts. Last year they wrapped 600; this year, they expect to wrap 1,000. When they are together wrapping, the room is abuzz with reminiscing and camaraderie, said Pam Boggs, Director of Marketing. They realize that for many, it’s the only Christmas gift they’ll receive. It’s deeply meaningful for them, she added, so they’re careful to make each bow special. She said there was more of a Christmas spirit at Prairie Homestead last year
See Santa, page 3