Community gives gifts to needy seniors
by ELIZABETH TAUFA, Reporter
W hile many programs exist to provide Christmas gifts to children and families in need, there are still those who are seemingly forgotten during

the holidays.

Often, senior citizens in the community are left isolated at a time when most of us are surrounded by family and friends.

The “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, which is run by Home Instead Senior Care, was designed to combat this situation.

The program, which runs through Dec. 15, provides the names of needy and isolated seniors and specific gift requests to Home Instead workers, who then write the first names and requests on ornaments to be displayed on Christmas trees at participating businesses.

Home Instead is a company that provides seniors with nonmedical services, such as reminders to take medication, homemaking, errand-running and companionship.

“A lot of seniors want to stay home as long as possible,” said Lisa Wiedemann, who owns the Buffalo branch of Home Instead with her husband, Eric. “Our services help them do that.”

People can pick a name from the tree, buy the requested gift and return it to the place where it was picked up. The gifts are then wrapped and distributed to the seniors by Home Instead volunteers.

“Last year, we had 6,000 volunteers distribute over 150,000 gifts across North America,” said Eric.

The trees, both last year and this year, are located at the HSBC branch in the Northtown Plaza, 3051 Sheridan Drive, Amherst, and the HSBC branch in the Sheridan Plaza, 1690 Sheridan Drive, Kenmore.

“Last year our (local) goal was 50 gifts,” said Lisa. “But the outpouring from the community was so great that the banks were calling and saying they needed more tags.”

After receiving more than 100 gifts from the community last year, Home Instead has upped its goal to 200 gifts for this holiday season.

The gifts that the seniors request vary from the most basic of human necessities to simple gifts of holiday decoration.

“The program is for everybody, not just those on a fixed income,” Lisa said. She noted that while some seniors wanted something as simple as a poinsettia to decorate their homes, others asked for gift cards to grocery stores because they lack the funds to purchase food.

The names and gift requests of needy seniors, as part of Home Instead’s “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, will be on trees in two HSBC branches on Sheridan Drive. Pictured are Home Instead owner Lisa Wiedemann, left, with HSBC-Sheridan Plaza Branch manager Christine Tylec.

But, according to the Wiedemanns, the products they supply are not as important as the emotional gifts they give to the seniors.

“For some people, this is the only Christmas they have,” said Eric. “They are the forgotten people.”

According to the Wiedemanns, last year’s gift requests included warm blankets and slippers, body lotion, sweaters, gift cards and candles.

“We even had a request for a 13-inch TV,” Eric laughed.

For Home Instead to connect to the people it helps, the company enlisted the aid of various nonprofit organizations and nursing homes.

“The Ken-Ton Meals on Wheels were good at connecting us with seniors for the program,” said Eric.

Ken-Ton Meals on Wheels also assisted Home Instead by connecting the company, through the BEST program of Erie 1 BOCES, to special needs students, who volunteered their time to cut out more than 500 ornaments to hang on the trees, Eric said.

Other nonprofit organizations that assisted in connecting seniors to the program were Catholic Charities of Western New York, Schofield Long-Term Home Health Care in Kenmore, Grace Manor Health Care Facility in Buffalo, St. Francis of Williamsville, Greenfield Health and Rehabilitation Center in Lancaster and Meals on Wheels of Buffalo and Erie County.

“We’re thrilled to be able to work with area agencies again this year,” said Lisa. “This is our way of giving back to the community because there are so many people who have nothing.”

Lisa also noted that Home Instead will hold a gift-wrapping day on Dec. 16 at a location to be announced.

For more information on the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, visit the Web site online at www.beasantatoase nior.com or call Home Instead at 630-0657.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com