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This season, many seniors in southwest Allegheny and Washington counties seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior® program. Sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care® office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

"It is heartbreaking to think of the senior members of our community spending the holidays all by themselves, without any gifts or any way to celebrate the season," said Lucy Cichon, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving southwest Allegheny and Washington counties. "But all too often, that's what happens when seniors live alone. It can be a really tough time of year for them."

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with several local agencies to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect 1,000 gifts in order to help more than 350 area seniors this holiday season.

Participating retail locations will display 'Be a Santa to a Senior' Christmas trees until December 15 that feature ornaments with seniors' first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.

A 'Be a Santa to a Senior' tree will be located at:

Washington Crown Center, 1500 West Chestnut St. Washington
Classics by Rene, 23A Old Clairton Rd., Pleasant Hills
Curves in Bethel Park, Corner of South Park Rd and Church Rd., Bethel Park
Walgreens in Upper St. Clair, Corner of Route 19 and Washington Road
Thomas Campbell Christian Center, 850 Beech Street, Washington
Home Instead Senior Care, 2000 Oxford Dr., Bethel Park

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

"During this season of giving, we encourage shoppers to buy a little extra for a local senior," said Cichon. "Your gift – and more importantly the visit that comes with the delivery – could make their holiday season."

For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 412-595-7554.

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