Click to enlarge CHRIS JENNINGS / HERALD DEMOCRAT Anita Ware wraps a gift for the Be a Santa to a Senior program that gives gifts to area senior citizens that may otherwise receive nothing for Christmas.

BY ANN LOWRY

HERALD DEMOCRAT

There was a lot of Christmas cheer and smiling faces on Wednesday at the Sherman Senior Citizens Center, as volunteers wrapped presents for the "Be A Santa to a Senior" program.

This was Megan Brown's first year to serve as a volunteer to wrap presents. "Everyone should take the opportunity to help others," she said of the season of giving.

"I want to give back at Christmas. If I could do more, I would," said Sonia McKnight, a volunteer.

According to Tim Dungan, owner of Home Instead Senior Care, this is the fourth year for the program. "The program is for senior citizens that are isolated, lonely or financially challenged," he said. "It has a tremendous impact on someone to be remembered."

Be A Santa to A Senior is designed to help stimulate human contact and social interaction for older adults who are unlikely to have guests during the holidays.

Home health agencies joined the Area Agency on Aging, Landmark Bank, Nautilus Sport and Fitness, Sherman Dialysis Center, and Virginia Cook Realtors to provide presents to 82 seniors that might otherwise have gone without.

Three Christmas trees were placed at area businesses and the names of the seniors and items wanted were placed on the trees. There were no big ticket items listed, rather most of the items were necessities including house slippers, house coats and lotions. The lists were then taken by shoppers and the gifts brought back to the businesses, where they were collected for wrapping.

The presents will be delivered to seniors on Friday, with the help of jolly ol' Santa Claus.