Many people believe that Christmas is just for children, but the people of the close-knit community of Steele know different. This Christmas season marks the inaugural Santa for Seniors program and banquet to honor the town’s senior citizens with gifts and love at Christmas time.
On Dec. 10, 200 people attended Santa for Seniors Day and evening banquet where members of the community provided gifts and food for Steele’s senior citizens.
“People tend to think Christmas is just for kids, and Toys for Tots is a great program, but we have to remember our seniors as well,” said Santa for Seniors coordinator Joy Ray.
Ray, who works full-time for the county road department, is also a part-time police officer in Steele. She spends a large part of her time each shift she works checking on senior citizens’ health and safety through the ‘Are you ok?’ program.
“We check on about 80 senior citizens at least twice a week,” Ray said. “With so much interest in the program, we thought we’d put together something at Christmas just for them.”
The program started with an angel tree for the seniors and a few announcements in local newspapers, then the Christmas spirit spread across the community with more and more people getting involved.
“The seniors were overjoyed that the community thinks so much of them,” Ray said. “And we’re very grateful that our town council supports and encourages our programs for seniors.”
Santa Claus and one of his elves also made a special trip to Steele to visit with seniors and to hand out Christmas presents. Many seniors were surprised to learn that Santa still remembered them from when they were children making their Christmas lists and trying to be nice and stay off Santa’s naughty list.
“We also included our homebound seniors by delivering their meals and gifts to them at home,” Ray said. “We love all of our seniors and didn’t want to leave anyone out of the festivities.”
The children’s choir from the Baptist Church of Steele and the Methodist Church of Steele entertained at the dinner by singing Christmas carols.
“Our mayor and council also attended and everyone was so pleased that so many people turned out to celebrate Christmas and our senior citizens,” Ray said.
Ray said area businesses also got into the giving spirit along with members of the community.
“We have to say a special thank you to Piggly Wiggly, Jack’s, Neighbor Market, Johnson’s, Cracker Barrel, Buffalo Rock, Captain D’s and Sunbelt as well as others for their donations,” Ray said. “To all who gave their time, money, and self, this day could not have happened without your support.”
Ray said she hopes the success of the program in Steele will inspire other communities to follow suit.
“If anyone else is interested in setting up a program to check on their seniors, they can call me and I’ll give them some tips to get started,” she said. “It’s such a good thing, I really hope other communities see how good it is for them.”
Ray said the Santa for Seniors program was such a success that the community is already looking forward to next year’s event.
“We have been blessed with special seniors who make up a lot of our community, but for one reason or another they may have been forgotten. A simple smile, a visit, a small gift, a hug and a little laughter can bring back the gleam in someone’s lost eyes,” Ray said. “You see that it brightens their whole day. This day will be remembered by all because love lasts a lifetime, and in Steele, we love our seniors.”
