Monitor Photo/Ashlee Sawyer
A Be a Santa to a Senior tree is located at The Monitor office located at 1316 S. Third St. in Mabank. 

MABANK–As the community prepares to celebrate the season of giving, Home Instead® encourages Mabank residents to share the holiday spirit with older adults who may not have family and feel alone. Through Be a Santa to a Senior®, community members can give a special holiday gift to an older adult who may otherwise go without. 
“A simple gift can bring such joy to older adults who may not have loved ones to celebrate with,” said Owner of the Mabank Home Instead office Kim Gassman. “Through Be a Santa to a Senior, we can help them feel the holiday spirit.” This is the program’s third year in the area. This year program coordinators hope to collect 150 gifts for 45 local older adults.
To participate, shoppers can look for Be a Santa to a Senior trees or displays at locations around the area. Ornaments featuring the name and desired gift of an older adult will be on display and shoppers can buy the requested gift and return it unwrapped to the location with the ornament attached. Ornaments will be available from Nov. 1 to Monday, Dec. 12. The gifts will be delivered to local older adults in time for the holidays.
Be a Santa to a Senior trees can be found at the following locations:
   • Cedar Creek Brewery located at 336 E Cedar Creek Pkwy in Seven Points, 75143.
   • Market Street Nest located at 128 E Market Street in Mabank 75147
   • Pit Stop Tex-Mex Café located at 1024 E Cedar Creek Pkwy in Seven Points 75143.
    • The Monitor located at 1316 S 3rd St in Mabank 75147. 
“This program is so much more than gift-giving, it’s about the special moments and joy shared between the older adults and the community around them,” said Gassman. “There is nothing better than seeing the smile on an older adult’s face when they open their gift.”
Be a Santa to a Senior is a true community program, with support from local businesses, nonprofit organizations, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community. The Home Instead office serving Mabank has partnered with Cedar Creek Silver Angels to help with gift collection and distribution.
For more information visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call (903) 310-1331. To learn more about helping older adults in Mabank, visit imreadytocare.com.