A merry Christmas? Annual program provides gifts for senior adults in Athens area

Wayne Ford, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read
FILE - People can select an ornament at participating businesses and agencies and provide a gift for a senior adult.
FILE - People can select an ornament at participating businesses and agencies and provide a gift for a senior adult.

An annual holiday program that provides gifts to older residents in the Athens area is underway now through Dec. 2 at 15 locations in Athens and Watkinsville.

“Be a Santa to a Senior” is a program sponsored by Home Instead with a goal this year of collecting 2,500 gifts for more than 800 senior adults in the region.

“Typically, the gifts fulfilled through the program are not luxury items but more likely necessities,” said Mary McHugh, spokeswoman for Home Instead. Often the gifts include items such as blankets, toiletries, slippers, stationery and postage stamps, she said.

The program is now in its 18th year of operation.

FILE - A Home Instead volunteer takes a gift to a senior adult as part of its holiday program.
FILE - A Home Instead volunteer takes a gift to a senior adult as part of its holiday program.

“A simple gift can bring such joy to older adults who may not have loved ones to celebrate with,” said Danny Hedgepeth, owner of the home-care business that locally operates in 10 counties of northeast Georgia.

To participate a person can go to a Christmas tree at select locations and take an ornament featuring the name and desired gift of an older adult. The person can purchase the gift and return it wrapped or unwrapped to the same location.

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The gifts will be delivered to the seniors in time for the holidays.

The trees for the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program are located at the following businesses:

  • Athens Community Council on Aging, 135 Hoyt Street, Athens, 30601

  • Athens Orthopedic Clinic, 125 King Avenue, Athens, 30606

  • Athens YMCA, 915 Hawthorne Avenue, Athens, 30606

  • Athens-Clarke County Police Department, 3035 Lexington Road, Athens, 30605

  • Athens-Clarke County Sheriff's Office, 2900 County Farm Road, Athens, 30605

  • Bella Salon, 1749 S Lumpkin Street, Athens, 30606

  • First American Bank & Trust, 300 College Avenue, Athens, 30601

  • Fleet Feet. 1694 S Lumpkin Street, Athens, 30606

  • Hawthorne Drug Company, 975-A Hawthorne Avenue, Athens, 30606

  • Phil Hughes Suburu, 3010 Atlanta Highway, Athens, 30606

  • St. Mary's Home Health, 1021 Jamestown Boulevard, #215, Watkinsville, 30677

  • UGA Dean & Directors Office, Conner Hall, First Floor, Athens, 30602

  • Uniforms Unlimited, 850 Prince Avenue, Athens, 30606

  • Village Drug Shop, 740 Prince Avenue, Athens, 30606

  • Walmart, 1911 Epps Bridge Pkwy, Athens, 30606

For more information, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call the local office at 706-983-1092.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: 'Be a Santa to a Senior' program has started in Athens area