LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Meals on Wheels is working to ensure their senior clients have a special Christmas through their Senior Secret Santa program, but they need more community support than ever before.
The program allows community members to adopt seniors by purchasing items from their holiday wish lists. There has been unprecedented demand this year, with 900 wish lists submitted, the most in the program’s history.
“We really need the community to step up. If you don’t have your own parents or grandparents, adopt one of our seniors,” Executive Director Lisa Gilliland said. “They would love a nice warm robe, a hat or some gloves, warm socks something that can make someone’s Christmas special.”
With 300 seniors still waiting for adoption, the organization hopes more people will participate before the November 24th deadline.
The wish lists often contain modest but meaningful requests, pajamas, books, pantry items, or supplies for pets. For many clients, these may be their only Christmas gifts.
“We’ve had people ask for leather gloves to operate their wheelchair easier. People ask for clothes to wear when they have to go to physical rehab,” Gilliland explained. “Most things people reach into closet and for a lot of our clients those things are very limited.”
The program serves as a reminder that the desire to feel remembered during the holidays doesn’t diminish with age.
“All of us like to be remembered, all of us like to feel special and to know somebody thought about us,” Gilliland said. “I think that’s the same whether you’re 8 or 80 years old.”
Anyone interested in adopting a senior can visit the Meals on Wheels office at 2304 34th Street or call 806-792-7971 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
More information is available on their website.
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