Play Santa to a senior Dec. 6

BEACON FILE PHOTO
Drop-off — A person drops off items at a past Santa for Seniors collection event.

By Jen Horton
Beacon Staff Writer

posted Dec 5, 2012 - 11:58:18am

Tissues and postage stamps; a mop bucket and bleach. Not things you might want to see under your Christmas tree this season.

But for hundreds of area seniors, those average items are luxuries.

Linda Campbell, special-events coordinator for Council on Aging, reminded the community about the Santa for Seniors drive set for Thursday, Dec. 6.

During the drive, Lohman Funeral Homes locations will collect basic items for homebound senior citizens. (See Page 2 for donation locations, including one in Deltona.)

“Our case managers call all of our clients and ask what they want for Christmas,” Campbell said. “The clients tell them they want a bucket of cleaning supplies, or facial tissues or toilet paper.”

The Council on Aging has the Angel Tree Program, in which many gift items have been received.

“Most of our seniors will get a gift,” Campbell said. “We really encourage during this drive gift cards, adult diapers, and Boost and Ensure drinks, which are not covered by Medicare.”

Gift cards are used to purchase these types of items, and money is used to help pay for prescriptions and other basic needs.

“These are the things we take for granted every day. They do not take these things for

She said it was important for people to be aware of the needs in this area, and that this is an opportunity to reach out.

“The importance is to give the community an opportunity to be involved with those seniors who have no family during the holidays,” Campbell said.

Senior Family Service Consultant of Lohman Funeral Homes Mike Baumgartle said Lohman has been supporting the cause for five years.

Donations are pretty steady, he said, and some of the items given were touching in more than one way.

“I had someone call in yesterday. She had lost her husband, and he had stocked up on soap and hygiene items,” Baumgartle said.

All Volusia Lohman locations will accept Santa for Seniors items.

“We really do a lot for the community,” Baumgartle said. “It’s important to not forget anyone in need.”

Donate 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at Lohman Funeral Homes at 733 W. Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach; 3571 S. Ridgewood Ave. in Port Orange; 935 E. New York Ave. in DeLand; and 1681 Providence Blvd. in Deltona.

For more information, call Priscilla Chanfrau at 386-253-4700, ext. 215.

— Jen Horton and

Sarahrose Ministeri

— jen@beacononlinenews.com

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