The local branch of Home Instead Senior Care — a health service organization dedicated to providing personalized quality private duty homecare to seniors in Northeast Ohio — takes its work to heart. The seniors it serves are not seen as clients — they’re overlooked community members.
The company, led by President Therese Glorioso, extends its dedication to enhancing the quality of life seniors in the community to its philanthropy work. Its “Be A Santa To A Senior” lauched in 2004, provides holiday gifts and needed companionship to lonely and indigent seniors in eight Northeast Ohio counties. The number of those helped has increased from 186 seniors at the start of the program to more than 2,500 served in 2011.
The organization plans for this event year-round. The program begins with community partners who place holiday trees in their stores or place of business. The more than 50 locations include BJ Wholesale Club, multiple local Chambers of Commerce, Walmart and Giant Eagle stores, Key Bank and more. Home Instead Senior Care then works with local nonprofit organizations and other groups that work closely with the elderly to identify candidates for the program.
Those identified get their names and needs decorated onto ornaments for the trees in merchant stores. Shoppers can then purchase and place the needed items in collection bins. Volunteers collect, wrap and deliver the presents, providing companionship to many without during a time when holiday warmth is most needed.
Home Instead Senior Care’s corporate financial commitment to the “Be A Santa To A Senior” in 2011 was approximately $30,000. This includes purchasing printing supplies, trees, decorations, wrapping materials and remaining gift items on the list of presents for seniors, as well as providing staff time — which totaled more than 1,500 volunteer hours.
How to reach: Home Instead Senior Care, (440) 734-7441 or www.homeinstead.com
