Seniors need Santa, too, and generous people can assist him
The area office of Home Instead Senior Care, provider of nonmedical home care and companionship for older adults, is hosting its sixth annual “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, which provides gifts to seniors who might not otherwise receive a holiday present.
Through Mon., Dec. 14, participating local nonprofit organizations will identify needy and isolated seniors in the community. Christmas trees will be set up throughout the area with ornaments containing the first names of the seniors and their gift requests.
Shoppers pick up an ornament, buy the items on the list and return them to the store, along with the ornament attached.
Volunteers and nonprofit workers will collect, wrap and distribute the gifts to the seniors.
Christmas trees are at these locations:
Simi Valley: Walmart, 255 Cochran St.; Simi Hills Retirement, 950 Sunset Garden Lane; Vintage Simi Hills, 5300 Los Angeles Ave.; Strathearn Historical Park, 137 Strathearn Place; Curves, 3885 Cochran St.; Hair Unlimited, 1720 E. Los Angeles Ave., Ste. M; Home Instead Senior Care, 1720 E. Los Angeles Ave., Ste. H.
Moorpark: Walgreens, 140 E. Los Angeles Ave.; Starbucks, 561 Los Angeles Ave. and 6595 Collins Drive, No. C3.
Thousand Oaks: Curves, 2090 Newbury Road and 1738 Moorpark Road; Valley Bakery, 2838 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.; Atria Hillcrest, 405 Hodencamp.
Ventura: Curves, 2611 Thompson Blvd., Ste. 105; Ventura Senior Recreation Center, 420 E. Santa Clara St.; The Lexington, 5440 Ralston St.
A citywide gift-wrapping day for the presents will be at 5 p.m. Tues., Dec. 15 at Simi Valley Senior Center, 3900 Avenida Simi.
To volunteer to help on giftwrapping day, call Laurie Reid at (805) 577-0926. For more information about the program, go to www.beasantatoasenior.com.



