'Be a Santa to a Senior' available at 7 Bradenton sites

BRADENTON -- The Be a Santa to a Senior program wants everyone to enjoy the warmth of the holiday season, including seniors who are alone or impoverished.

Sponsored by the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Bradenton and surrounding areas, the Be a Santa to a Senior program provides gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors. The program is made possible by support of nonprofit organizations, retailers, volunteers and community members.

"There are so many seniors right here in Bradenton who have nothing and no one," said Lisa Herlache, Ph.D., owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office. "Through this program, we are able to show them that they are valuable members of our community and that people still care."

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Bealls Outlet, Bon Worth and Bradenton Budget Self Storage to help with gift collection and distribution.

Participating retailers will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees through Dec. 10 with ornaments bearing first names and gift requests from seniors. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments, buy the items and return them unwrapped with the ornament attached to the store.

Program partners and volunteers wrap and distribute gifts to seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.

"We have seen firsthand how much this program means to local seniors," said Herlache. "Without it, there would be seniors for whom the holidays would pass without even a visit."

Be A Santa To a Senior tree are at the following locations:

Bealls Outlet-Beachway Shopping Center, 7212 Manatee Ave. W., 941-794-0981.

Bealls Outlet-Ellenton-North River Village, 6242 U.S. 301, 941-723-7430.

Bealls Outlet, 4902 Cortez Road W., 941-761-2519.

Bealls Outlet, 3905 Manatee Ave W., 941-746-3288.

Bon Worth, 6363 Manatee Ave. W., 941-795-8133.

Bon Worth, Bayshore Gardens Target Center, 6110 14th St. W., 941-755-5626.

Budget Self Storage, 6801 Cortez Road W., 941-761-9304.

Information: Go to BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 941-739-3050.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "'Be a Santa to a Senior' available at 7 Bradenton sites ."