Gift-givers invited to 'Be a Santa to a Senior' in Portage County

Diane Smith, Record-Courier
·3 min read

Portage County residents are being asked to make Christmas a little brighter for seniors who may not otherwise get gifts for the holiday.

A 12th tree conveying the Christmas wishes of Portage County's senior citizens was added to the lobby of the Portage County Administration Building last week, just hours after county commissioners recognized Home Instead Senior Care for its "Be a Santa to a Senior" program. This is the 19th year for the program in this area, Home Instead representatives said.

The tree is decorated with paper bulbs, each containing the first name and Christmas wish lists of older adults in the area.

Joan Penix, executive director of Home Instead Senior Care of Portage County, and Therese Zdesar, president of Home Instead's Portage County office, add decorative bulbs to a tree at the Portage County Administration Building in Ravenna.
Joan Penix, executive director of Home Instead Senior Care of Portage County, and Therese Zdesar, president of Home Instead's Portage County office, add decorative bulbs to a tree at the Portage County Administration Building in Ravenna.

Joan Penix, executive director of Home Instead Senior Care of Portage County, and Therese Zdesar, president of Home Instead's Portage County office, attended Thursday's commissioner's meeting, where the program was recognized. After the presentation, Penix and Zdesar updated commissioners about the program, and said an additional tree location was needed because of several last-minute requests.

An ornament with a small wish list for a senior named Betty.
An ornament with a small wish list for a senior named Betty.

Commissioners agreed to let the senior care agency set up its tree in the lobby of the administration building. People who take a bulb are asked to bring it back with a new, unwrapped gift by Monday and turn them in at the security station at the building lobby.

Hudson Moore, 2, who was passing through the Portage County Administration Building lobby, helped decorate the tree.
Hudson Moore, 2, who was passing through the Portage County Administration Building lobby, helped decorate the tree.

Zdesar said the program is providing gifts to 278 older adults, identified through various social service agencies. A recent meeting with seniors from Portage County Mobile Meals yielded numerous requests for gripper socks and warm lap blankets. Others requested things like stamps and stationery so they could write to loved ones and pay their bills via mail.

"It's very much the simple things in life," she said.

Therese Zdesar, president of the Portage County office of Home Instead Senior Care, adds a bulb to the tree near a sign explaining the program in the Portage County Administration Building in Ravenna.
Therese Zdesar, president of the Portage County office of Home Instead Senior Care, adds a bulb to the tree near a sign explaining the program in the Portage County Administration Building in Ravenna.

A group of Portage County seniors has agreed to help wrap the gifts, which Zdesar described as "seniors helping seniors." Teens from 4-H clubs will design Christmas cards to go with each gift.

"When they see that homemade card, they light up," Penix said.

Once the gifts are wrapped, first responders, accompanied by a group of vetted volunteers, will personally deliver the gifts to seniors.

"That's where you really get to spend some time with them and give your gift of the human spirit," Zdesar said.

Therese Zdesar, president of the Portage County office of Home Instead Senior Care, adds a red bow to the top of a Christmas tree set up at the Portage County Administration Building on Thursday.
Therese Zdesar, president of the Portage County office of Home Instead Senior Care, adds a red bow to the top of a Christmas tree set up at the Portage County Administration Building on Thursday.

Zdesar said people in the community also can help seniors by being aware of the older adults in their community and finding out if their needs are being met.

"The biggest part of the program is not the presents, it's the presence of the human spirit," she said.

In addition to the tree at the administration building, gift-givers can pick up a bulb at the following locations:

  • Aurora Senior Center, 129 W. Pioneer Trail, Aurora.

  • Dairy Queen Edinburg, 4009 State Route 14, Edinburg.

  • Family and Community Services, 705 Oakwood St., Ravenna.

  • Garrettsville Library,10482 South St., Garrettsville.

  • Kent Fire Department, 320 S. Depeyster St., Kent.

  • Mantua Station Drug Store, 10870 State Route 44, Mantua.

  • Portage Community Bank, 1311 E. Main St., Ravenna.

  • Portage Community Bank, 1532 S. Water St., Kent.

  • Portage Community Bank, 4183 Tallmadge Road, Rootstown.

  • Summa Health Rootstown Pharmacy, 4211 State Route 44, Ravenna.

  • The RAC, 530 Freedom St., Ravenna.

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Gift-givers invited to 'Be a Santa to a Senior' in Portage County