50+ Lifestyles

Senior Secret Santa

By Kathy Horrell

CASI Director of Senior Services

The holiday season is the time of year when we think of those who are less fortunate. Most of our thoughts and donations go to organizations that support children, families and the homeless. But each year hundreds of Quad City area older adults go without holiday meals, gifts, and companionship due to lack of family, friends and financial resources.

The Center For Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) along with Milestones Area Agency on Aging, and Alternatives For the Older Adult, are working together to ensure that older adults are not forgotten about this holiday season through the Senior Secret Santa Program. The program is partially funded by the Support A Senior Scan-able Campaign that took place in Quad City area Walgreens stores in September and through generous community contributions and donations.

In 2015, the Senior Secret Santa program, filled the holiday wish lists of more than 500 low to extremely low income seniors in Iowa and Illinois. Wish items traditionally include every day household, personal and health care items along with gift cards to help with nutritional and medication needs. But the need for this program is growing. This year, CASI anticipates there will be close to 750 older adults participating. CASI is looking for additional support for this program through contributions from individuals, businesses, and community organizations.

Top 5 Senior Secret Santa
Wish List Items

1. Personal Care Items: Soap; Shampoo/ Conditioner; deodorant; lotion; shaving cream, adult briefs, diabetic socks, toothbrush and tooth paste.

2. Cleaning Items: Cleaning products; laundry soap and fabric softener; garbage bags.

3. Clothing: Socks; slippers; undergarments; pajamas, clothing; winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves.

4. Household Items: Pots, pans, toasters, coffee pots; kitchen towels, bath towels; bathroom/shower grab bars, sheets, blankets, bedspreads.

5. Gift Cards: Area grocery stores and pharmacies for food and medicine and medical supplies.

If you would like to help with the Senior Secret Santa program, call or stop by CASI to make a donation. CASI is located at 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport, IA 52806.

On-line donations can also be made via the CASI website, CASIseniors.org.

Seniors wishing to participate in the program must be 60 years of age or older and living on meager funds who would otherwise not have a Christmas without the Senior Secret Santa program. They should have an annual household income of less than $24,100 for a single person or less than $27,500 for married couples, and must be a current client of one or more of the participating organizations.