Gorham and surrounding communities are working together for the betterment of all with Home Instead’s “Be a Santa to a Senior” program. The program, now in its eleventh year, served close to two hundred seniors the first year and it has grown steadily year after year.
“It takes the entire village to make this program successful,” said Kathy Damon, Home Care Consultant at Home Instead, “and everyone involved works tirelessly until the last gift is delivered.”
Host trees can be found at ten locations from Portland to Bridgton. Each tree has tags that provide the name and three gift requests of an older adult. Generous people from the public take a tag and shop for those gifts, then return the unwrapped gifts in a bag with the tag by Monday, December 5 to the same location where the tag was picked up. Tree locations include the following: DiMillo’s On the Water, Portland; Sebago Brew Pub, Gorham; Sebago Brewery and Tasting Room, Gorham; The Blue Pig Diner, Gorham; Ocean Gardens Restaurant and Tavern, Gorham; Home Instead, Gorham; Blue Seal Feeds, Windham; Chute’s Family Restaurant, Windham; The Black Horse Tavern, Bridgton; Bridgton Community Center, Bridgton.
Photo credit: Krista NadeauOnce all the gifts are ready for delivery the Gorham, Windham, and Westbrook police departments help deliver them to the residents of those towns. Several nursing homes and assisted living facilities will hold holiday gatherings where they will distribute gifts to their residents.
Last year, Home Instead’s “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, together with countless kindhearted people and many generous local businesses, successfully brought the holiday spirit to the lives of 755 older adults living in Cumberland County.
For most, the holiday season brings feelings of joy and excitement but that may not be true for some, including older adults. “There are so many older Mainers who are isolated and lonely,” said Bill Jenks, owner of Home Instead, “and the holiday season can be especially difficult for them. This program lets them know they are not forgotten; that someone cares about them.”
Damon and Buffy Houp, who has been volunteering with the program since day one, work closely together to organize the program. “It begins with people in our community taking a tag and fulfilling that wish list. This program is about giving to others, and it fills my heart,” said Houp.
Bill Monarch, co-founder of Sebago Brewing, has been involved with the program since its inception. “No one should feel forgotten during the holidays. There is a need out there, so partnering with Home Instead was an easy decision,” said Monarch. Tim and Sonia Devine, owners of Ossipee Trail Motors echoed the same sentiment. “We believe in giving back to the community,” said Tim Devine.
“Our residents are so surprised and excited when we deliver their gifts,” said Christie Gaydos, Director of Resident Services for Portland Housing Authority. It is said that giving is just as good for the giver as it is for the receiver.
“Local Girl Scout troops are making ornaments as a thank you to everyone who takes a tag and shops for an older adult,” said Pam Irish, program coordinator for the Girl Scouts of Maine.
“We make ornaments so people can put them on their tree,” said eight-year-old Brooke Lafferty, a Brownie with troop 1201. “It makes me happy because we help a lot of people in our community,” added troopmate Madeline Musser, who is also eight.
Remember, gifts must be dropped off by December 5 to the business where the tag was picked up or to Home Instead located at 502 Main Street in Gorham. If the tags are all gone from a tree when you arrive and you still want to help, call the folks at Home Instead to learn what’s left for you to do.