Toy and food drives abound at this time of year, as thoughts turn to helping those residents who are less fortunate than others.

Home Instead Senior Care, a national provider of non-medical home care and companionship for older adults, has partnered with local retailers to make sure isolated elderly citizens are not forgotten this holiday season.

This is the fifth year of the Be a Santa to a Senior program, and last year the company’s Slidell office collected more than 650 gifts.

Kelsey Cuttrell, left, of Franco'€™s Athletic Club delivers presents to Evelyn Snider of Home Instead Senior Care. The Mandeville gym is one of three locations in the area participating in Be a Santa to a Senior, the annual drive to collect gifts for lonely or needy senior citizens. (Staff Photo by Anne Lautzenheiser)

“There are seniors in nursing homes and residences all over this area who simply don’t have anyone,” said Len Snider, owner of the Slidell office, which serves both St. Tammany and Washington parishes. “We want to bring them a little sunshine.”

Christmas trees have gone up in Rouse’s Supermarket at 1644 Gause Blvd. in Slidell and at 3461 E. Causeway Approach in Mandeville, as well as at Franco’s Athletic Club, 100 Bon Temps Roule, just off Louisiana Highway 22 in Mandeville. Through Dec. 18, shoppers may take a tag off one of the trees, purchase the items listed, then return the gifts to that location.

Snider said his company has partnered with nursing homes, churches and other agencies to identify those seniors in need. Children in local schools are also making handmade holiday cards that will be attached to the items.

Once all the items are collected, Home Instead will enlist the help of its staff, senior care associates, local nonprofit agencies and others to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts. Two gift-wrapping parties will be held, on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. at Slidell Adult Day Health Care, 3401 Pontchartrain Drive and Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Windsor Senior Living Community, 1770 N. Causeway Blvd. in Mandeville. For more information, call 726-2668 or visit www.beasantatoasenior.com.