Special gifts and a friendly visit

‘Special gifts and a friendly visit’: Agency gears up for Senior Santa

Program benefits homebound seniors without loved ones in area

By Savannah Hess - Correspondent

The Albemarle Commission’s Area Agency on Aging is once again preparing to brighten the holiday season for homebound seniors who do not have loved ones living in the area.

Santa for Seniors was started by the Albemarle Commission’s Area Agency on Aging in 2016 and is coordinated by Ashley Lamb, aging program specialist with the Area Agency on Aging.

“It was created to provide special gifts and a friendly visit to those clients that were typically alone during the Christmas holiday,” said Lamb.

For those that do not have loved ones in the area, Santa for Seniors serves as a reminder that people are still thinking about them.

Seniors who are served through the Albemarle Commission’s Area Agency on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program are eligible as well as “clients from other programs such as congregate nutrition clients, family caregiver support program clients and individuals of long-term care facilities,” Lamb said.

Each year, staff members comb through their client files after the completion of assessments and reassessments and identify clients who do not have loved ones living in the area. Information on each client is gathered in the fall and given to volunteers. The volunteers are then tasked with shopping for gifts that are personal to each client.

Last year, 48 seniors received gifts through Santa for Seniors. The gifts were hand-delivered by the AAA’s staff as well as by the Inner Banks Santa Claus. The AAA received enough donations to provide gift bags to the 500 clients receiving Meals on Wheels.

Staff at the Area Agency on Aging wrap gifts at the Albemarle Commission for last year’s Senior Santa program.

Photo courtesy Ashley Lamb

Inner Banks Santa Claus, who also goes by the name Gary Lico, loads up gifts to deliver to clients of the Senior Santa program. The Albemarle Commission’s Area Agency on Aging hosts the program every year to brighten the holiday season for seniors who do not have loved ones living in the area.

Photo courtesy Ashley Lamb

This year, personalized gifts will be the main focus of the program. Gift bags will also be provided to clients receiving Meals on Wheels. If you would like to donate items for the gift bags, you can do so at any local senior center.

To become a volunteer, members of the community can call 252-404-7088 and “adopt” a homebound senior. Gifts will be accepted at 512 S Church St., Hertford until Dec. 6.