Crossword puzzle books. Tracksuit sets. Fuzzy slippers and stuffed teddy bears. These are just a few of the requested items submitted to Silver Santas, a local nonprofit that brings holiday cheer to low-income seniors in the Tampa Bay Area. Thanks to the support of Grow members, team members and community members, the Grow Financial Foundation was able to share lots of gifts to benefit seniors in need over the holiday season.

About Silver Santas

Silver Santas is a volunteer-based project that delivers gifts during the holiday season to isolated and low-income seniors through providers, such as assisted living communities, senior housing communities and home-based care professionals. The organization relies on public donations to provide gifts of clothing, toiletries and household items. Several Grow team members are personally involved with Silver Santas, including Tracy Curry, Market Manager at our Largo store. Curry said, “I’ve always felt that the elderly can get forgotten around the holidays. Usually, the focus is on children, but I wanted to make an impact on the elderly. This initiative has allowed me to give back to those who are in need of a little holiday cheer. Three years later, Silver Santas is going strong, and we have donated over five truckloads of gifts.”

Here’s how Silver Santas works

Step 1: Caring professionals submit gift requests. Seniors who are in danger of being forgotten over the holiday season are identified by caring professionals, including social workers, senior community activity directors and other professionals who work for healthcare providers serving the senior population.

Step 2: Local businesses share wish lists with the community. Collection boxes for Silver Santas were stationed at all Grow stores in the Tampa Bay Area between November 28 and December 9.

Step 3: Community members shop the wish lists. Anyone wanting to support Silver Santas donates gifts for seniors at any collection box at Grow or other local businesses. We’re so grateful that many of our members and visitors participated by donating wish-list items this year!

Step 4: Seniors receive their gifts. Caring professionals share the holiday cheer with seniors in need and deliver the gifts.

The Grow Financial Foundation also wanted to share joy with seniors in need in our South Carolina communities. We collected donations to benefit Senior Resources, Inc., an organization based in Columbia that provides necessary services and care for low-income seniors. Thanks again to everyone who donated gifts to support seniors in our local Tampa Bay Area and Columbia and Charleston communities! Learn more about Silver Santas and Senior Resources, Inc.

---

Posted In:

• News