For the past six years, the Home Instead Senior Care office in Ashwaubenon transforms into Santa's workshop. Dozens of gift bags line the walls, and they're all stuffed with love.
"This annual holiday project is really about serving those who have no family, who have no friends, who will truly have an alone Christmas time," explained Branch Manager Catherine Hougard.
Home Instead partners with CVS and Walgreens to put up Christmas trees in their Green Bay area stores. Community members are invited to take ornaments off the tree. Each one contains the name of a client and their wish list.
"We leave it to the shoppers who come through the store, and they have been more than generous," said Hougard.
People purchase items like warm socks, towels and lotions. One talented donor even created a personalized, wooden table to hold a woman's oxygen supplies.
After volunteers spend hours wrapping and organizing the gifts, staff members pack up the presents and travel over the river and to Woodside Manor they go, where two special seniors are waiting to receive a big surprise. Georgia Benoit and Dorthea Nelson open their gift bags and are grateful to know that someone is thinking of them during the holidays.
"I couldn't believe it when I opened it, and when I realized what it was, all these things that could be given to someone else, that's a wonderful feeling," chuckled Nelson.
This act of kindness and compassion had Benoit overcome with emotion. As she wiped away her tears, the Home Instead staff cherished the tender moment, knowing they've brought her so much joy.
"This is our opportunity to utilize community to bring the light and love of Christmas into the hearts and spaces of those seniors," said Hougard.
Because whether you're a kid, or a kid at heart, everyone deserves to experience the magic of Christmas.
This year, the Be a Santa to a Senior program is delivering gifts to 100 seniors living in nine different facilities in Brown County.
