Angel tree program in 8th year of helping seniors
Published: December 19, 2005
We all have our wish lists at this time of year. One local widow had food and laundry detergent on hers. Another list from a 79-year-old man included sweat pants and socks.
An army of elves, staff at aging agencies and hospitals, are working together this season to fulfil those lists and bring some holiday cheer to the area’s senior citizens. In its eighth year, the PSA 3 Area on Aging’s Senior Angel Tree program will provide gifts of blankets, food and other needed items to about 400 seniors in seven counties.
“It’s an incredible project and it only comes together because so many people work on it,” PSA 3’s Program Director LeAnn Rolland said. “We’re always amazed at the outpouring of generosity from the hospital staff.”
Caseworkers with PSA 3 and the Allen County Council on Aging supply names for angel trees at Lima Memorial Health System and St. Rita’s Medical Center. Hospital staff pick names and their wish lists from the trees and head to the stores.
“It’s really grown over the years,” said St. Rita’s social worker Maggie Wehri. “Our employees are always asking when the tree is coming, and many take two or three names from the tree. Our office is always full with presents.”
Some seniors helped by the program are low-income; many are on fixed incomes. Some simply have few family or friends to visit or help, Rolland said. Lots of wish lists include food and blankets, and hospital employees say their hearts are touched by helping people stay fed and warm.
“For lots of us, shopping for those names is the most fun we have at Christmas,” said Lima Memorial’s Deb Mosher, manager of the hospital’s infection control and associate health. “We take our children, to teach them the true meaning of Christmas, and it’s just a total joy.”
Rolland said caseworkers had the better end of the bargain.
“We have the good end of this — delivering these presents,” Rolland said. “Some people just cry. Some have us sit down, and they want to open it right then. Others put it under the tree and wait for Christmas.”
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