Be a Santa to a Senior, the campaign that has delivered 1.5 million gifts to needy seniors throughout North America during the past seven years, again is helping older adults cope in tough economic times.
The area office of the Home Instead Senior Care network, a provider of non-medical in-home care and companionship services for older adults, has partnered with Gloria Nilson Realtors in Rumson, Creative Learning Center in Shrewsbury, QuadraMed in Neptune and New Jersey Senior Publications to provide gifts and companionship to seniors who otherwise might not receive either this holiday season.
“Many older adults continue to struggle in a down economy, particularly those who live alone with no family nearby to help provide resources,” said Phyllis Venancio, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Monmouth County. Seniors have faced a trying year amid the threat of Social Security payment delays as part of the debt-ceiling debate. What’s more, seniors have lost almost onethird (32 percent) of their buying power since 2000, according to the “Annual Survey of Senior Costs” from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL).
The participating local nonprofit organizations have identified these seniors and have provided their names to the local Home Instead Senior Care office. Christmas trees are up at the Rumson office of Gloria Nilson Realtors, Creative Learning Center in Shrewsbury, QuadraMed in Neptune, and New Jersey Senior Publications in Neptune, and the Home Instead Senior Care office in Eatontown, featuring ornaments with the first names only of the seniors and their gift requests.
Holiday shoppers can pick up an ornament, buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store, along with the ornament attached.
For more information, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.