The staff at Home Instead Senior Care pose with a Christmas tree adorned with tags for their Be Santa to a Senior campaign. Courtesy photo
It's easy to Be Santa to a Senior in Corpus Christi. Just pull a tag from one of five trees set up by Home Instead Senior Care and purchase the requested gift. Wrap it at home with the tag attached to the outside and place it back underneath the tree by Dec. 16. You’ve just helped one of 600 seniors who are part of the city’s Meals on Wheels program have a happier holiday.
The national Home Instead Senior Care has operated the program since 2003. In that time, about 60,000 volunteers have helped distribute gifts to approximately 700,000 seniors. The company partners with local nonprofit and community organizations to identify seniors who might otherwise not receive gifts.
In Corpus Christi, Be Santa for a Senior partners with Meals on Wheels.
“Our local franchise has been doing the campaign for 14 years,” said Jen Kolle, homecare consultant at the Corpus Christi branch. “We give unfortunate seniors opportunities to get their Christmas wish list.”
There is no price range on the gifts; Santas can spend whatever they choose. After gifts are collected, they are delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers.
Home Instead Senior Care has placed five Christmas trees across Corpus Christi. Each tree is decorated with little square gift tags adorned in the company’s signature purple and white colors.
“The tags say the sponsored senior’s name and what they’re requesting,” Kolle explained. “The most common gifts are sweaters, blankets, socks, slippers. Things like that.”
Be Santa to a Senior trees are located at:
Home Instead Senior Care, 5151 Flynn Parkway, Suite 307
Bealls and Burkes Outlet, 4101 Interstate 69 Access Road
Villa of Corpus Christi South, 4834 Yorktown Blvd.
Mirador, 5857 Timbergate Drive
Wooldridge Place Nursing Center, 7352 Wooldridge Road
For more information on the program, visit beasantatoasenior.com.
