RACINE COUNTY - For the past six years, Home Instead Senior Care has asked community members to Be a Santa to a Senior, by buying presents for seniors at local stores.

A pair of slippers, stationary, perfume, books and socks are just a few of the little gifts that could brighten a lonely senior's Christmas.

Victor Erato, the owner of Home Instead, said most of the recipients on their list are low income seniors with little or no family. They might also be frail and not able to get out of the house. Most have very few visitors, if any.

Last year Home Instead delivered 510 gifts to seniors.

"Be a Santa to a Senior is a great way to give back to the older adults in the community during the hectic holiday season, when many are forgotten," Erato said. "The holiday is often considered a time for children, but seniors - especially those who are isolated and lonely - need to be remembered as well."

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

Erato said last year he delivered a gift to a senior who has no family in Wisconsin. She is 89, has congestive heart failure and lives alone in a rural area. She was so happy the day he delivered her gift, she cried, he said.

Erato said he was the only person she saw that day.

"Be a Santa to a Senior is a way to show our gratitude to those older adults who have contributed so much to our community," he said. "We hope to reach out to many with this gesture of holiday cheer and goodwill."

Home Instead Senior Care, which offers non-medical home care and companionship for older adults, partners with several agencies and nonprofit organizations to identify seniors that would benefit from community gifts each year.

Christmas trees are set up in several local stores and businesses. The trees are decorated with ornaments containing the first name of a senior and their gift request. Shoppers can buy items on the list and return them unwrapped to the store.

Local stores and organizations participating in the program include: Knueppel Health Care Services, 1143 Warwick Way; Curves 8338 Washington Ave. and 3701 Durand Ave.; Walmart, 3049 S. Oaks Road; Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 322 Ohio St.; Coldwell Banker, 3417 Douglas Ave.; ReMax/Newport Realty, 1020 West Blvd.; Sew & Save, 3701 Durand Ave.; Lakeview Pharmacy, 517 Wisconsin Ave., and the Woman's Club, 740 Lake Ave.

All gifts must be purchased by Dec. 15.

Volunteers, Home Instead staff, participating businesses and workers from nonprofit agencies and others will gather Dec. 14-15 to wrap and distribute the gifts to the seniors. Erato said anyone is welcome to help wrap the gifts.

Anyone interested in volunteering during the gift-wrapping day can contact Christine Scott at (262) 598-0290.