Two programs help needy seniors
| Friday, Nov 27 2009 12:00 PM
Last Updated Friday, Nov 27 2009 12:00 PM
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HOW TO HELP
Bakersfield's Christmas for Seniors 2009, operated by the Bakersfield Police Department
* Donations (preferably by Dec. 8, but accepted through Dec. 16)
- Sundries: Two-ply toilet paper; paper towels; cleaning supplies; toiletries; laundry supplies. No economy sizes, please. Each senior will get a package. Drop off sundries at the Police Activities League, 301 E. 4th St., between 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
- Gift ideas include GET bus passes, large-print crossword and word-search puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, bath towels and blankets. Gifts can be dropped off at PAL.
- Cards: If you've got kids, seniors love personalized cards with encouraging words. Make sure your child signs with his or her first name only and don't include your contact information. Drop cards off at PAL.
* Events
Seniors wrapping party, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 10 a.m.
The morning event at Carriage House Estates, 8200 Westwold Drive, is an opportunity for seniors to help other seniors by wrapping donated supplies and gifts. If you have scissors and tape, please bring them.
Public wrapping party, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Locals of all ages are welcome to wrap gifts at the Police Activities League, 301 E. 4th St.
Bring your own scissors and tape. You can also bring wrapping paper if you have it.
For more information contact Sandy Morris at 326-3051 or smorris@bakersfieldpd.us.
Be a Santa to a Senior, sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care (Note: Home Instead's over-all operations are for-profit, but Be a Santa to a Senior is a not-for-profit community service effort, organizer Debora Savoy said.)
* Ornament trees bearing gift ideas are currently set up at Walgreens and Curves locations around Bakersfield. Trees are also located at Bank of America branches at 2800 Oswell St., 2708 Ming Ave., 1440 Truxtun Ave. and 5021 California Ave.; Sweet Surrender at 6439 Ming Ave.; Faast Pharmacy at 3400 Calloway Drive; and L.S. England Designs at 7201 Schirra Court.
You'll leave the unwrapped gift at the location you bought it with the ornament attached. It will be collected later and wrapped by other elves.
* Community wrapping party, Thursday, Dec. 10, 6:30 p.m., hosted by Glenwood Gardens, 350 Calloway Drive. This is a family-friendly affair where each senior's present gets dressed up. Local school kids will have already made cards.
* Deliveries, Dec. 16-Dec. 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., leaving from Glenwood Gardens. "We need all the elves we can to come and help deliver gifts," Savoy said.
Volunteer wrappers and drivers should call to register as soon as possible.
For more information call Home Instead at 321-3235.
Images:
Felix Adamo / The Californian Linda Danforth has benefited from the "Be a Santa to a Senior" program.
Bakersfield is a generous community, particularly during the holidays. To help readers find new ways to give back to neighbors and friends, The Californian is featuring a wide array of nonprofit organizations this season.
Last Christmas, a robe and cashews from the North Pole made the holidays brighter for Bakersfield resident Wanda Edwards, 82.
"It made me happy," she said of gifts delivered by Be a Santa to a Senior volunteers.
Two local programs meant to spread holiday smiles to Kern's less fortunate older residents are now kicking into high gear.
Be a Santa to a Senior is sponsored by national franchise Home Instead Senior Care. The annual charity effort has been operating in Kern County for about five years, said local coordinator Debora Savoy. About 700 seniors will receive gifts this year.
Another program, Bakersfield's Christmas for Seniors, is run by the Bakersfield Police Department. Sandy Morris, who heads the 3-year-old effort, said it connects and inspires young folks and seniors. About 1,000 will be helped this year.
"Both are great programs," said Kris Grasty, director of Kern County's Aging and Adult Services Department. "We work closely with both."
Volunteers -- individuals, schools, churches, scout troops, businesses and service groups -- donate, wrap and deliver gifts and supplies.
For many recipients, the highlight is the visit itself, organizers say.
The programs assist lower-income seniors, many of them isolated. Names are provided by the county, the housing authority, pastors, doctors, social workers and others in the field.
Oildale resident Linda Danforth, 61, remembers getting a gift box with clothing last year and "quite a bit" of food. She lives on her own with assistance from her granddaughter and service groups.
"They're real helpful," she said of the people who support her.
Be a Santa to a Senior needs elves to help wrap and deliver presents in mid-December (see "How to Help" sidebar). You can also find trees at local businesses with gift ideas on ornaments.
Christmas for Seniors, meanwhile, especially needs volunteers for upcoming wrapping parties. Donations of basic supplies are also sought.
The Police Department's Morris, who has been working closely with students at Curran Junior High, said bringing generations together is the crux of her program.
The seniors and kids love each other, she said, and the students are especially awed by the older generation's humble pride.
"They don't ask for more than they need; they don't take more than they need," Morris said.
It's a powerful message, she added.
