December 3, 2008

Home Instead Senior Care has teamed with several area businesses in preparation for this year's Be a Santa to a Senior program. According to organizers, the national program will provide gifts to more than 500 lonely and low income senior citizens in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

“We're all so disjointed. Most of us don't live near our family anymore and seniors are often forgotten,” said owner of Home Instead Senior Care, Jeanne McCusker.

Wish lists providing gift request information on paper ornaments can be found on four Christmas trees located throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Many of the seniors' requests are for basic needs like slippers, robes, and shoes.

People interested in getting involved should stop by Our Lady of Peace, Sam’s Club, In Vino Veritas in Keswick or Volvo of Charlottesville to pick up one of the ornaments.

“They're minimalists they don't need a lot, and people think oh they're fine, they don't need anything during the holidays, but it's nice for them to get some cheer with a present,” McCusker said.

Our Lady of Peace, a senior care facility, in Charlottesville is participating for the second year. Staff members say while their seniors are taken care of, many others in the area are not.

“There are many seniors that are homebound many of them are alone, some have families far away. We like to be involved in something where we're able to give something back to those seniors,” said Our Lady of Peace, Pam Butler.

“It's just a wonderful time of fellowship and giving back to the community during the holiday season. Everybody is very well-aware of the fact that the population is aging and not everyone is quite as fortunate as they may be,” said Butler.

You can also make a monetary donation to the program. That money will help offset the cost for any ornaments that have not been claimed.

Gifts must be returned, unwrapped with the ornament attached, to the tree they were picked up from by December 8th. A community gift wrapping event will take place at Our Lady Peace in Charlottesville on December 10th.

The ornaments can be picked up from four Christmas trees at the following locations:

Our Lady of Peace In Vino Veritas
751 Hillsdale Drive 3015 Louisa Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901 Keswick, VA 22947

Sam’s Club Volvo of Charlottesville
970 Hilton Heights Road 3025 Ivy Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901 Charlottesville, VA 22903