OSWEGO COUNTY – More than 150 seniors in Oswego County received holiday gifts through the Oswego County Office for the Aging’s (OFA) Santa for Seniors program. OFA staff delivered presents to 151 seniors who were nominated and adopted by community members.
“We’re so happy we were able to continue ‘Santa for Seniors’ in 2023 and are so thankful for the community’s ongoing support of this program,” said OFA Director Sara Sunday. “Many residents and local businesses contributed generous donations to help make our seniors’ holidays a little brighter, and we even had members of neighboring counties adopt seniors as well.”
Oswego County residents aged 60 and over who live in the community and are isolated or have no family are eligible to be nominated or nominate themselves for “Santa for Seniors.” Nominations typically open in the fall and end in late November. Adopters then receive their senior’s wish list, which typically consists of basic household items, comfort items, clothing and things of interest to that older adult.
“All of our nominated seniors were adopted this year, and we had a waitlist of more than 50 people wishing to adopt,” said NY Connects and Caregiver Services Coordinator Elizabeth Weimer. “Due to the waitlist, we decided to create the option for people to purchase supplemental items to be given to seniors along with their gifts, such as puzzle books, socks, hats, gloves, blankets, hot cocoa, hard candy, pens, notebooks, calendars and playing cards.”
Local businesses also made large donations of supplemental items, including RJ Caruso Tax and Accounting, Burke’s Home Center, Pathfinder Bank, Ontario Orchards, Humana, Canale Insurance and Accounting, Compass Federal Credit Union and Davis-Standard.
In addition to gifts, food bags were given to the seniors most in need, filled with a month’s supply of shelf-stable food items. Some seniors received a turkey courtesy of Oswego Industries and The Arc of Oswego County; and ARISE donated food baskets as well.
Pets of the program’s adopted seniors also received gifts this year. The Oswego County Humane Society donated baskets filled with pet supplies, such as food, toys and litter.
“It’s truly heartwarming to see the community come together to support our seniors,” said Weimer. “In addition to all of the generous donations, residents and students from local schools also took the time to make holiday cards to give to our older residents. The seniors are so thankful to receive these gifts, and it means the world to them to know they are not forgotten during the holidays.”
For more information about the Oswego County Office for the Aging and senior programming, call 315-349-3484 or email [email protected].
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