Santa Program Provides Assistance for Seniors this Holiday Season

Be a Santa to a Senior, the popular 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, the world’s largest provider of non-medical in-home care and companionship services for older adults, has partnered with Riverside Women’s Association, AAA, Mosside Middle School, St. Joseph School, Monroeville Girl Scouts, Walgreens and Kmart 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 Cheryl Stawovy, co-owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Plum, Oakmont, Monroeville, Penn Hills, Fox Chapel and surrounding areas.

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 one-third (32 percent) of their buying power since 2000, according to the Annual Survey of Senior Costs from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL).

That’s where Be a Santa to a Senior can help. Before the holiday season, the participating local nonprofit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors and provide those names to the local Home Instead Senior Care office. The Oakmont location is on Allegheny Avenue.

Christmas trees, which will go up in , Saltsburg Road in Penn Hills and Frankstown Road in Penn Hills, plus Kmart on Mall Boulevard in Monroeville and Butler Street in Shaler through Dec. 6, will feature 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.

“We hope holiday shoppers will open their hearts to those seniors who have given so much to make our community a better place,” said Kathi Lenart, co-owner of Home Instead Senior Care with Stawovy.

For more information about the program, visit www.beasantatoasenior.com. For more information, contact 412-517-8337 or visit www.homeinstead.com/310.