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Jan. 18, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: I am so grateful to everyone who participated in the 2022 Be a Santa to a Senior program. This was my fifth year serving as coordinator, and I was once again overwhelmed and inspired by the generosity of our community.
Over 300 local older adults received gifts during the holiday season. The recipients were financially in-need, socially isolated, or living in a nursing facility. A personalized wish list was created for each senior. Generous individuals and businesses adopted the wish lists and purchased the requested gifts. Many wish lists included simple items such as a warm socks and gift cards for groceries. Other requests included bird feeders, dangly earrings, a pink comforter, new toys for the pet beagle, and craft supplies.
To make the gifts even more special, students from Waddell Elementary and LDMS hand-decorated beautiful gift bags for all 300 recipients. Many thanks to the art teachers, Tracy Bond and Hannah Straub, for seeing the value of this service project and helping their students develop empathy for the needs of older adults.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the holidays a little brighter for seniors in Rockbridge County.
MELISSA GLADWELLSAYRE Lexington
