The holidays are close, and a Jackson organization is once again asking the community to make sure older neighbors are not forgotten.
Home Instead in Jackson has kicked off its annual Be a Santa to a Senior program, WBBJ reported. The program gives anyone in the community a chance to bring some holiday joy to a senior who might otherwise go without.
Home Instead has hosted Be a Santa to a Senior for more than 20 years. The goal is to bring holiday cheer to older adults, especially those who spend the season alone.
Melanie Davis, Home Instead's business development manager, said the season can be hard for many seniors. "The holidays can be very isolating for people who don't have family, and for just seniors in general that maybe have a hard time getting out. Isolation is just hard for anybody, so just to let them know they're thought of and appreciated," she said.
This year, more than 100 seniors are on the list waiting to be adopted. Home Instead's office has a tree decorated with tags, and each tag carries the name of a senior in need. Participants can pick a tag and shop for that specific person, or they can donate basic gifts such as snacks and blankets.
Gifts will be accepted until Dec. 4. After that, Davis said, volunteers hold a big wrapping party, and the gifts are delivered over the following week or two. Home Instead handles the deliveries itself.
For someone used to spending the holidays alone, a thoughtful gift can be a reminder that they are still a valued part of the community.
People who want to adopt a senior can stop by Home Instead's Jackson office on Cheyenne Drive to choose a tag.
Sources: WBBJ; Home Instead Jackson