'Be a Santa to a Senior' kicks off across Mahoning Valley

Home Instead Senior Care is looking to spread holiday joy once again. 

Mahoning Valley's annual 'Be a Santa to a Senior" program is kicking off, and this year, the program is hoping to serve up to 500 seniors across the Valley.

The program is set to last till Dec. 9.

According to the release, the program began in 2003, and since that year, the program has provided approximately 2.1 million gifts to more than 750,000 seniors nationwide. 

This year Home Instead has partnered with Amazon Business to create a contactless gift-giving experience. 

The community can purchase gifts online from individual Amazon Business wish lists created for each senior. From there, the items will be sent directly to a local senior's home or safely delivered by program volunteers.

"The Be a Santa to a Senior program brings so much joy to seniors in our community," said Carol Hitchcock, owner of the Home Instead office serving the Mahoning Valley.

"We've all felt isolated at some point during the pandemic, but seniors are especially at risk of feeling isolated, and a simple gift can show them that we are thinking of them. And that's more important this year than ever." Said Hitchcock