Christmas gift donations sought for the elderly

But hundreds of needy and isolated seniors in Pima County aren't expecting anything this Christmas, much less a visit from ol' St. Nick.

You can make it happen.

The "Be a Santa to a Senior" program is asking for donations of gifts the program is hoping to deliver to more than 1,000 local seniors.

The program's sponsor, Home Instead Senior Care, is a non-medical, in-home care provider offering services such as light housekeeping to seniors throughout Pima County.

"Everyone always thinks of young children at Christmastime, but that is what is so nice about this program. It's different. It's geared toward seniors," said Tormay Newman, the program's coordinator.

Being Santa to a senior is easy. Christmas trees have been set up in four locations throughout Tucson. Each tree has different ornaments, each with the name of a senior and the person's gift requests written on it.

Now through Dec. 19, people can pick up an ornament, buy the items on the list, and return them unwrapped to the same location or other donation site.

Playing Santa doesn't have to be expensive, either. Many of the gift requests are simple — a sweater, a pair of socks, some lotion and shampoo — things the rest of us take for granted, Newman said.

Carolyn Eisner, an employee at Zachary's Pizza, said she was "devastated" after reading the simple requests attached to the Christmas tree in her workplace this year.

"I had to sit and cry for an hour when they brought in that tree . . . one of them just wanted a box of Kleenex," Eisner said.

Another asked for Brylcreem.

Eisner didn't know if the men's hairstyling product was even available anymore. But after some quick research, she was able to order a tube from an online store.

A tube of Brylcreem costs $5.99 at drugstore.com.

"There is no basic price range. It's really the act of giving that is important," Newman said.

Volunteers will wrap and deliver the gifts to seniors whose names have been provided by local church groups, senior centers and nursing homes.

The gifts are typically delivered to seniors who are isolated and lonely, without friends or family living close by, but there are no specific requirements for them to participate, Newman said.

"We just gather names of people who may not have a very happy Christmas," Newman said.

The program has grown steadily since it began in 2005.

The program started its first year with 300 names. Last year, volunteers delivered 3,000 gifts to more than 1,000 seniors, Newman said.

This year, program coordinators are hoping to double the number of recipients to more than 2,000, she said.

To meet that goal, the program has started earlier than ever. Trees have been at the four gift-list pickup sites since last Monday.

The response has been positive, Newman said.

"Even while we were first putting ornaments up on the tree, we had people taking them off," she said.

If you want to get involved further, help is needed to wrap and deliver the gifts. Volunteers can call Newman at 770-9943 to sign up for a wrap session.

Gifts will be delivered the week of Dec. 15.

However, gift purchases can still be made through Dec. 19, Newman said.

The gifts are truly appreciated, Newman said.

"Just to see the joy on their faces is worth a million dollars. They're so surprised," she said.

'Be a santa to a senior'

pick up gift list

Here's where you can pick up a gift list — or more than one, if you're feeling especially generous — for a senior citizen.

• Calvary Christian Center, 3875 N. Commerce Drive.

• Lay Chiropractic, 3605 W. Cortaro Farms Road, No. 145.

• Kmart Super Center, 7055 E. Broadway.

• Zachary's Pizza, 1028 E. Sixth St.

For more information about "Be a Santa to a Senior" or to volunteer, contact Tormay Newman at 770-9943 or go online to: www.beasantatoasenior.com