How to Be Santa to a Senior Program Helps Bring Holiday Cheer to Those Who Need It

Tracy Baugh with Home Instead Senior Care visited with Lubbock's First News with Tom Collins and Laura Mac Wednesday morning to talk about the "Be a Santa to a Senior" program.

Home Instead has partnered with Meals on Wheels, Adult Protective Services and the Silver Star Room Board of Directors to provide gifts for the area's less fortunate senior citizens.

With the theme of "Comfort and Joy," the program allows the public to buy simple necessities for the seniors in need. This is the 11th year for the Be a Santa program in the Lubbock area.

"We are collecting gift items for needy seniors, people that may be have been left out at Christmas time," Baugh explained. "Meals on Wheels and Adult Protective Services  have helped identify those people. So they are asking for simple things like blankets, space heaters, food, hygiene items and sometimes even food. These are things we forget about as we are so busy during the holiday season taking care of our lights and taking care of presents and all those things, there are people who are left out at Christmas time."

Those wishing to help out can visit one of several locations -- the K-Mart at 6501 University Ave, City Bank's main location at 5219 City Bank Parkway, or the Home instead offices at 1010 Slide Road -- where they can choose the name of one of over 430 seniors provided by Meals on Wheels or chose a gift list submitted by APS.

The deadline for donating gifts is Saturday, December 12.

Baugh also noted that volunteers are need to help deliver the gifts on December 19.

For more information on the program, you can contact Baugh at Home Instead at (806) 281-4663 or visit the official website.

You can listen to the full interview with Baugh by clicking the 'play' button below.