ST. GEORGE – Southern Utah volunteers are needed for adopting seniors living in assisted living and skilled nursing communities this holiday season in the third annual Santa for Seniors.
“The family who adopted me last year made me feel so loved and I remember thinking that the Lord had really blessed me with their visit,” said Cheryl Casper, a resident at The Meadows Senior Living Community. “I was so touched by their generosity and kindness. It just made Christmas so wonderful.”
Seniors living at Kolob, The Meadows, Red Cliffs Rehab, and Ridgeview Gardens may be adopted by volunteers for one evening designated by the individual community. Those who would like to participate as a “Santa” at one of these communities can expect to buy a simple gift and spend an hour or two with their senior.
Ridgeview Gardens will be hosting Santa for Seniors at their community on Dec. 9. The Meadows event will be Dec. 10, and Kolob and Red Cliffs Rehab will each be hosting on Dec. 11. All events will be starting at 5:30 p.m.
Each participating community will provide entertainment, refreshments, and a picture with Santa and their senior at the time of the event.
Santa for Seniors is for any type of individual, group, or family looking to make this time of year more meaningful.
“This was so much fun last year!” said Spencer Worthington. “I’m still friends with my now good buddy Ross, who I was fortunate enough to meet at last year’s event”
Co-Founder Jennifer Shakespeare said that Santa for Seniors was organized as a way for our seniors to be recognized, included, and filled with love.
“The holidays can often have an opposite effect on some seniors because of memories now past and those long since gone,” Shakespeare said. “Santa for Seniors is meant to ease some of the pain and create new relationships that hopefully fill the season with joy and love. It’s about spending a quality evening getting to know someone who is truly amazing; the gifts are just an added bonus.”
Senior Adoptions may be made at:
- Orange Peel, 42 River Road #13, St. George
- Free medium smoothie with adoption
- 25 Main, 25 North Main Street, St. George
- Free cupcake with adoption
- Swig, 300 West St. George Blvd, St. George, and 1550 West State Street, Hurricane
- Free cookie with adoption
- St. George Senior Center, 245 North 200 West, St. George
For those with giving hearts yet limited time, there are “Secret Santa” options for those seniors home bound receiving care from home health and hospice agencies. Volunteers adopt these seniors the same way but instead will drop off their gift at the participating agency by Dec 15. The participating agencies are Alpha, Dixie Hospice Care, Gentle Touch, Rocky Mountain Care, and Zions Way. These donated gifts will then be delivered to the home bound seniors before Christmas.
Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.
A man visiting with a senior during the 2013 Santa for Seniors event, St. George, Utah, December 2013 | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Shakespeare, St. George News
A family and a senior pose with Santa during the 2013 Santa for Seniors event, St. George, Utah, December 2013 | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Shakespeare, St. George News
2013 Santa for Seniors event, St. George, Utah, December 2013 | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Shakespeare, St. George News
Teens meeting with a senior at a St. George nursing home during the 2013 Santa for Seniors event, St. George, Utah, December 2013 | Photo courtesy of Jennifer Shakespeare, St. George News
Flyer for the Santa for Seniors event, St. George, Utah, undated | Image courtesy of Jennifer Shakespeare, for St. George News
Resources
- More information can be found on Facebook or by calling 435-414-1422
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LOL hey look evil twit does have a real Xmas friend
…and that’s the sort of comment that should be banned from this site, Insulting and non=productive. JMO
Ahhh you poor little thing you somebody made a poopoo in your sandbox and mommy isn’t there to clean it up….. Well maybe you can have me banned from the temple
Whaaaaaaaa Whaaaaaaaa Whaaaaaaaa. LOL
There is an angel tree set up in Lin’s Hurricane, probably others around town….Have a good holiday season. 🙂
TThis is the kind. of comment that shouldn’t be allowed here it’s ignorant racist and disgusting JMO
This is a great opportunity for church missionaries to solicit these … to join the church, for their own salvation, and get them to donate their life savings to the church! Gift wrap a few of those church books and claim them to be gifts from God. Then spend the afternoon convincing them to sign up. Nothing says Christmas more than preying on the seniors during the holidays!
Ed. ellipsis.
What a wonderful program – I love this!
What a great program. Alot of Senior Citizens do not have anyone to visit them. I go to the Beehive home alot and it puts a smile on their face as well as mine. My family will do this. You can learn so much about our past thru them.
Why aren’t the family of this “Family Oriented” town and state visiting them? Too busy with sports and their materialistic pursuits?