Be a Santa to a Senior kicks off for the holidays

Staff report

This season, many senior citizens in parts of Mahoning and Trumbull counties who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior program sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care office.

The effort brings together area nonprofits, retailers, volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship to seniors.

Home Instead has joined with Sterling House Salem, Catholic Charities, Paisley House, Guardian Angels/Trumbull County Probate Court, Clare Bridge in Austintown, Greenbriar Commons, Aheppa and Camelot Nursing Home to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect 2,400 gifts for more than 800 seniors this holiday season.

Participating retail locations will display Be A Santa to a Senior Christmas trees until Dec. 8 that will be decorated with ornaments featuring seniors’ first names and gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items and return them unwrapped, with the ornament attached, to the store.

Trees will be located at the following places:

• Walgreens in Austintown, 5501 Mahoning Ave.

• Walgreens in Cornersburg, 3800 Tippecanoe Road, Youngstown

• Walgreens in Niles, 2249 Youngstown-Warren Road

• Optical Solutions in Austintown, 6006 Mahoning Ave.

• Curves in Boardman, 7050 Market St.

• Walmart in Cortland, 2016 Millennium Blvd.

• Bella Sole Salon, 945 Boardman Canfield Road No. 7, Boardman

Program partners and volunteers will wrap and distribute gifts to local seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.

For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 330-729-1233.