Be a Secret Santa to needy area seniors

VIRGINIA - You wouldn't want your grandmother alone or with no gifts over the holidays, but many are. Home Instead Senior Care's Kendra Kielbasa says the holidays can be an especially lonely time for senior citizens.

"There is a real need for these seniors to be remembered. Depression and suicide rates are very high in older seniors."

Kielbasa says there are many forgotten seniors this time of year.

"Some that are in assisted living, some are in low-income housing, some are in their own homes, but are in just financial need or they're all alone."

You can help by being a Senior Santa. The Senior Santa trees are throughout Northern Virginia and work similar to the Salvation Army's Angel Trees. You pick a name off the santa tree and buy the gift the senior needs. Kielbasa says small gifts make a difference.

"John, age 78, a pair of slippers size nine."

Then return gifts to the tree location and civic groups deliver them to needy seniors.

"Without family, without friends. Some of them are just so limited mobility-wise they may be able to pick up the phone and talk with a friend, but that's not often the case either, so for them to have someone come visit with them for a little bit and deliver a gift is tremendous."

Get information on the program and locations of Senior Santa trees here.

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