By Mary O’KEEFE

Home Instead Senior Care is sponsoring a community service program that brings gifts to seniors in La Crescenta, La Cañada, Burbank and Glendale.

The “Be a Santa to a Senior” program reaches out to seniors who are alone for the holidays and brightens their day with a gift.

Senior Care is a company where employees are hired to do light housekeeping, prepare meals, run errands and complete other activities seniors may need done.   The Santa project is their way of giving to those in need, said Nancy Serpa, community service representative.

“There are people that can’t afford our services. We get their names from a variety of agencies like the Catholic charities and the Salvation Army,” Serpa said.

Two years ago they were able to supply 780 seniors with gifts. This holiday Serpa knew the economy was going to make getting donations difficult. “This year we have 550 names and we don’t have enough gifts yet,” she said.

The organization is about 35 gifts short. Serpa said at this point they would like to have gift cards from grocery or department stores. “That way we can get what they need, wrap it and deliver it to them,” she said.

Serpa added the seniors are surprised and appreciate the fact that someone cared to give them a gift at Christmas. She has names for those in nursing homes as well as homebound seniors.

Anyone who would like to donate can do so by dropping off an unwrapped gift at Curves at 3725 Clifton Place in Montrose or at the Home Instead office at 3917½ Riverside Drive in Burbank, 91505. For information contact the offices at (818) 843-8688.