Share Cheer with Older Veterans this Holiday Season!
Home Instead’s Be a Santa to a Senior program kicks off in Duluth
DULUTH, MN – Nov. 04, 2022 – As the community prepares to celebrate the season of giving, Home Instead encourages Duluth area residents to share the holiday spirit with older adults who may not have family and feel alone. Through Be a Santa to a Senior, community members can give a special holiday gift to an older adult who may otherwise go without.
“A simple gift can bring such joy to older Veterans who may not have loved ones to celebrate with,” said Mary Andrews, owner of the Duluth Home Instead office. “Through Be a Santa to a Senior for Veterans, we can help them feel the holiday spirit.”
This year, program coordinators hope to collect 300 gifts for 257 local older adults. This is the program’s 18th year in the area.
To participate, shoppers can look for Be a Santa to a Senior tree or displays at locations around the area. Ornaments featuring the name and desired gift of an older adult will be on display, and shoppers can buy the requested gift and return it wrapped/unwrapped/or in a gift bag to the location with the ornament attached. Ornaments will be available from November 22 to December 18. The gifts will be delivered to local older veterans’ adults in time for the holidays.
Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations:
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- Menards Hermantown
- Menards West Duluth
- Home Instead office in Proctor, MN
"This program is so much more than gift-giving – it's about the special moments and joy shared between the older adults and the community around them,” said Andrews. "There is nothing better than seeing the smile on an older adult’s face when they open their gift.
Be a Santa to a Senior is a true community program, with support from local businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers, and members of the community. The Home Instead office serving Duluth has partnered with Menards, to help with gift collection and distribution.
Since the program’s inception in 2003, Be a Santa to a Senior has mobilized more than 65,000 volunteers, provided approximately 2.2 million gifts, and brightened the season for more than 750,000 deserving older adults nationwide. For more information visit https://www.beasantatoasenior.
