ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Looking to do some good this holiday season?
- Elves for Elders looking for volunteers
- Elves for Elders to provide Christmas gifts for more than 200 seniors
- HOW TO HELP: Elves for Elders
How about making the holidays a little more cheerful for an older person.
Elves for Elders is looking for volunteers to adopt the elderly this holiday season.
Aging Solutions started the non-profit Elves for Elders with the hope of giving a holiday lift to senior citizens.
Every year, hundreds of Bay area seniors in nursing homes with no family or no family nearby, don't get to experience the holiday season.
Head Elf Lisa Esposito has made it her mission for the last 15 years to find more elves in the community to adopt a senior and provide a gift.
Elves for Elders is hoping to provide Christmas gifts for more than 200 seniors this year but say they still need plenty of help.
Esposito said the wish lists are simple: Many seniors ask for basic items like clothing and toiletries. She said many of the seniors have no family, few if any friends and without the elves, no Christmas.
"It’s extremely happy and sad at the same time," said Tamara Cribben with Aging Solutions. "Because some of them start to cry before you even open the bag. They don’t even know what’s in the bag but they’re so happy someone has remembered them that their emotion is so great.
"They’re just happy to be remembered."