The holiday season is here, and while many are filled with merriment during this time, seniors who live independently can often feel lonely and depressed when they are unable to spend the holidays with family or friends. 

  • 'Be a Santa to a Senior' program open now
  • Community invited to buy gift for lonely senior
  • Program hopes to spread holiday cheer to elderly 

That is why Pinellas County Home Instead Senior Care is inviting the community to come together to bring comfort and holiday cheer to area seniors through its Be a Santa to a Senior program

Research suggests that feelings of loneliness can have a real effect on both mental and physical health, according to Julie Castle, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Clearwater.

"The holidays are a prime time for many people to feel lonely, and that may be especially true for seniors who cannot travel from their homes or have lost their support network,” Castle said.

“With Be a Santa to a Senior, we are able to bring them some comfort through a thoughtful gift that they might not otherwise receive," she said. "But more importantly, we deliver those gifts with a warm friendly face and kind words to remind them that their community cares about them.” 

The Be a Santa to a Senior program is simple: Participants can pick up a paper ornament containing a gift request at one of its many locations and return with the requested gift by Dec. 11. Community volunteers and program partners will wrap and deliver the gifts to local seniors in time for the holidays. 

While the act is simple, the impact is extraordinary. 

“We’re excited to get started and see the tree ornaments turn into meaningful gifts and interactions that can make a real impact on seniors’ quality of life this holiday season,” said Castle.

The program is made possible through the support of area businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, and volunteers and members of the community. 

Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following Bealls Outlet locations from Nov. 1 to Dec. 11:

• 1271 S Missouri Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756
• 914 Patricia Ave., Dunedin, FL 34698
• 2158 E Bay Dr., Largo, FL 33771
• 12030 Indian Rocks Rd., Largo, FL 33774
• 10801 Starkey Rd., Largo, FL 33777
• 1113 62nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
• 2020 66th St. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
• 3635 49th St. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33710
• 5123 34th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711
• 7185 Seminole Blvd., Seminole, FL 33772
• 6864 Gulfport Blvd. S, South Pasadena, FL 33707
• 41318 US Highway 19 N., Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
• 3140 Tampa Road, Oldsmar, FL 34677