Lincoln-area shoppers have until Dec. 2 to return gifts for Home Instead’s annual Be a Santa to a Senior program. To take part, choose an ornament with an older adult’s Christmas wish from a participating giving tree and buy the requested gift.
Bradi Saddler, a client care and marketing manager with Home Instead, told KLIN News the program expects to reach about 1,000 older adults in Lancaster, Seward and Saline counties. She said Home Instead works with local facilities and community programs to reach people who may have trouble affording gifts or may spend the holidays away from family. Each participant can request two gifts.
“A lot of times the seniors invite us into their homes and they want us to watch them open their Christmas presents,” Saddler said. “We get so many calls after we deliver their presents of them just thanking us.”
Home Instead lists giving trees at the Northern Lights Hy-Vee at 84th and Holdrege streets, Dick’s Sporting Goods at Gateway Mall, Union Bank & Trust near South 27th Street and Pine Lake Road, and its offices in Lincoln and Seward. Contact Home Instead Lincoln for gift drop-off instructions.
Volunteers can help wrap gifts and write Christmas cards from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Home Instead office at 1400 Dahlberg Drive, Suite E, in Lincoln. Saddler said the wrapping party is open to the public and no sign-up is required. People who want to help deliver gifts can sign up at the party.