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Volunteers gift wrap presents for elderly
By Sean Barron
AUSTINTOWN
Sandy Keney fondly recalled having used her dancing prowess to entertain residents in area nursing homes she visited.
Much of her enjoyment came from seeing the positive impact her efforts had on the men and women – even those who suffered from the advanced stages of dementia.
“The patients were responsive,” the North Jackson woman remembered. “They would come alive with the music.”
More recently, Keney wasn’t performing any dance moves, though she was exercising her hands and arms as she and numerous other volunteers busily wrapped a series of presents for senior citizens as part of the 15th annual “Be a Santa to a Senior” gift-wrapping party at the Home Instead Senior Care office, 5437 Mahoning Ave.
The holiday-themed festivities continue at 10 a.m. today at Home Instead.
The 23-year-old Omaha, Neb.-based organization provides personal-care needs, assists with meals and medications and offers a range of other services to older adults while allowing them to remain as independent as possible in their homes.
The agency also works in conjunction with family members and medical personnel, noted Dottie Johntony, the local Home Care’s general manager.
This year’s “Be a Santa” gathering will benefit 974 senior citizens from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, many of whom also need companionship – especially during the holidays, she explained.
This time of year can be particularly difficult for those who have little or no family, are depressed and alone or have suffered a major loss, Johntony continued.
Keney, whose Christmas plans include visiting her daughter’s Lake Milton home and seeing her five children and 11 grandchildren, deftly wrapped items such as clothing, scarves, perfume, soap and toothpaste. The merchandise was then placed in bags to which recipients’ names and lists of needs were affixed.
“This is awesome,” she said of being part of the event. “I’d certainly be happy to get all of this stuff.”
Accompanying Keney was Sue Close of Austintown, who carefully and patiently wrapped pairs of slippers and socks as well as a tube of hand cream and a box of candy.
“It makes me happy and warm inside,” said Close, who also has donated her time to area nursing-home residents, some of whom had few, if any, visitors.
Volunteers took their time wrapping then placing in bags a variety of merchandise that also included photo albums, word-search puzzle books, a coffee maker, reading materials, calendars, a fleece blanket, packages of razors, shaving cream and jigsaw puzzles.
After being wrapped, the items are to be delivered next week to local nursing homes and agencies from which Home Instead received the seniors’ names. Afterward, those entities will distribute the gifts to the intended recipients, Johntony noted.
Making sure the process ran as smoothly as possible were Shannon Patrick and Viki Stoops, both of whom are Home Instead employees. Patrick and Stoops were on hand to ensure each bag of gifts goes to the correct person, Patrick explained.
“Those little elves who check the list? That’s us,” Stoops said with a chuckle. “We make sure every senior gets a gift.”
The two women also thanked the local businesses that contributed to the effort, along with Pizza Hut, Eat ‘n Park, Red Lobster, Olive Garden Italian Restaurant and Chipotle Mexican Grill for donating meals for the volunteers.