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Bringing Joy To Seniors

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By JOYCE McKENZIE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

Updated: 12/03/2007 06:44 pm

TEMPLE TERRACE - Putting smiles on the faces of disadvantaged children during the Christmas season has long been a focus of gift givers.
Temple Terrace resident Kristi Campbell is centering much of her attention on the opposite end of the age spectrum.

As owner of the Hillsborough County franchise of Home Instead Senior Care, a business that provides nonmedical home care services for the elderly, Campbell is committed to bringing holiday joy to seniors who might otherwise be forgotten.

Enlisting the assistance of area nursing home administrators who have identified close to 600 residents who will be without family during the holidays, Campbell has made it her mission to recruit community organizations willing to display Christmas trees and hang Be a Santa to a Senior ornaments containing the wish lists from the program's selected participants.

"Be a Santa to a Senior is a national program of Home Instead, but I tweaked it," Campbell said. "It generally targets people who live in private homes, but Hillsborough County does a similar program called Elves for Elders, and I didn't want to compete with them."

In Temple Terrace, the Be a Santa to a Senior trees are on display at the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, 9385 N. 56th St., and Shapes Total Fitness, 11301 N. 56th St., Suite 1.

Donors are encouraged to drop by, select ornaments and purchase and deliver the unwrapped items, with ornaments included, to either site. Campbell, her staff and other volunteers will wrap and deliver the presents.

"This program is a way that we can give back to our community by providing gifts to some of our most treasured residents," Campbell said. "Around this time of year, the facilities have at least three to six deaths, many due to depression. So, it's also designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for seniors."

Cheri Donohue, the chamber's executive director, is delighted to help out. "The program brings their needs closer to me," she said. "Just like teenagers, you generally don't know what to buy for seniors, but because they've listed the specific gifts they want, it makes it so much easier."

Shapes' marketing and advertising manager is just as thrilled about the program.

Many of the residents of Delta Health Care, a nursing facility in the University Area, will be among the program's beneficiaries.

"They definitely do put 'home' in the name Home Instead Senior Care," said its social service director, Mary Johnson. "They don't have to do this, but it's all from the heart. They genuinely care about the seniors."

The wish list items include toiletries, slippers, socks, blankets, towels, costume jewelry, a change purse and a flannel shirt. The deadline for purchasing and delivering gifts is Monday.

Monetary donations are also welcome. Checks should be made payable to Home Instead Senior Care and mailed to 1755 S. Kings Ave., Brandon FL 33511.

For details, call Campbell at (813) 629-8869 or Lea Richmond at (813) 629-2132.

Reporter Joyce McKenzie can be reached at (813) 865-4849 or jmckenzie@tampatrib.com.

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