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12/04/2016 07:13 AMIn Branford's Blackstone Library, there's a humble Christmas tree that's giving away its ornaments to those who'll give back.
Written on each paper decoration is a wish for a little gift that will help brighten the spirits of an elderly Branford resident. The gifts can be purchased by anyone willing to help Home Instead Senior Care's "Be A Santa to Senior" program.
Trees like these can be found around the shoreline; but it's the first time one has been set up at the Blackstone. The Blackstone tree will help about 125 seniors. Their wishes are simple -- like a warm sweatshirt, a box of candy or grocery store gift certificate. The giving is just as simple – take an ornament, purchase the requested item, return it to the Blackstone to be wrapped and distributed in time for the holidays.
"Be a Santa to a Senior" began in 2003 in Guilford, where Home Instead has a home office. Since that time, it's spread across the area into community programs and businesses including those in Branford, North Branford, East Haven, Madison and more.
Home Instead's shoreline "Be a Santa to a Senior" has grown from 146 gifts delivered in its first year to what's anticipated to be 1,000 across the shoreline this holiday season, said Home Care Consultant David Lapic. Home Instead staff and volunteers pick up gifts from collection points, then wrap them and return them to the communities, where local volunteers will make deliveries.
"You should consider doing this for three reasons," said Lapic. "One, to celebrate that you can - that you have the abundance in your life. Two, because at some point during the busy holiday season you are going to stop and realize – you really are the type of person who would do this, and three; because it benefits 'seasoned citizens' who live in your community."
The idea to branch out with a tree at the Blackstone is due to partnerships created by Branford-based Community Dining Room (CDR) Executive Director Judy Barron. As the former director of North Branford Senior Center, Barron instituted the program at the center seven years ago. Barron joined CDR in January 2016.
Barron felt Be a Santa to a Senior would be a perfect fit for Branford seniors who can also benefit from CDR's mission to serve nutritious, hot meals to those in need. She also reached out Branford Housing Authority (BHA), which oversees elderly housing at Parkside Villages I and II. BHA signed up more than 60 residents and CDR gathered over 60 more through CDR's free homebound meal delivery program. The Parkside residents also learned about the opporutnity to participate in CDR's homebound meal program.
Barron contacted Blackstone Library director Karen Jensen to coordinate the rest.
"Karen welcomed it," said Barron. "The Blackstone is a great central location for the community to find the tree. A lot of traffic comes through."
The CDR/Parkside Village "Be a Santa to A Senior" Christmas tree is set up on the library's ground floor, where donated gifts with the original ornament tags can returned through December 26, 2016. Home Instead staff and volunteers will regularly collect, wrap and re-deliver gifts, with ornament tags attached, to each town's coordinating group. Coordinators then make sure the gifts are delivered to seniors in the community in time for the holidays.
"Sometimes, it is their only gift; and they also get a little visit with it," said Barron. "So our volunteers for CDR this year will get a new treat; not only to bring a meal, but to bring a gift, as well."