Carson City "Be a Santa to a Senior" ends today

The holidays are a time for family and friends, but unfortunately for many seniors, this can be a lonely time for them.

is a non-profit organization that created "Be a Santa to a Senior" where people can help buy items for seniors in need during the holidays. They partner up with local community organizations to identify seniors who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season.

Home Instead Senior Care then partners up with businesses in the community by placing Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas Trees in their stores. Each tree has a tag with a senior's name, age, and three items the senior wants. Typically, seniors ask for items to keep them warm like hats, gloves, socks and pajamas. People can buy all three items on the tag or just one. The items are then placed into a box next to the Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas Tree and are taken back to the Home Instead Senior Care office at the end of the day.

The program ended for the locations in Reno last week, but the program is still going on for the locations in Carson City until Tuesday, December 11. It is not just seniors in Carson City that will benefit from this program, but seniors from Gardnerville, Dayton and Carson Valley.

"It helps our seniors who are isolated here who have no family," said Shelly Rosario with Home Instead Senior Care,"They live in long-term facilities and we do not want to forget them during the holidays."

When the program ends volunteers wrap the presents and bring them back to the seniors. Home Instead Senior Care is having a "wrapping party" and is asking volunteers to help them wrap presents this Saturday, December 15th. You can call their office at the Carson City location at (775) 283-0333.

For more information and a list of participating stores click

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