Meals on Wheels is accepting donations for ‘Santas for Seniors’ project

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Meals on Wheels' Santa for Seniors project provides special gifts to 2,500 seniors during the holidays.

Meals on Wheels in Tyler not only delivers fresh and hot meals to older and disabled East Texans, but they also provide specialized gifts for their seniors during the holidays.

"Many of our clients are shut-ins or don't have any family nearby, and (for) some of them, this will be the only gift that they receive this year,' says Tiffany Damskov, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels.

Damskov says giving these gifts to seniors from the community demonstrates the love and support that they will receive during a time where they might feel lonely or isolated.

"This program is very important to me, because they cared for my grandparents over 20 years ago," says Damskov. "So, I realized the importance of that visit and just that human interaction with someone that they can trust."

The program starts collecting gifts this week, with drop-off locations throughout East Texas in the counties of Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood. They are collecting fleece blankets, large print puzzle books, and no-slip socks.

"It makes a difference to let them know that in this season that someone does care about them, that someone has a heart and a passion to do so," says Sherecka Conway, one of the volunteers. "So, it encourages them to keep going and pushing."

Conway says she finds joy in helping those in need, especially seniors. She finds it brings joy both to herself and those who receive it.

"It's definitely joyous and a passion of mine, of helping, it just gives me joy to see them smiling, and also it makes me smile to know that they're okay," says Conway.

She says she is excited to witness even more smiles at this year's Santas for Seniors project.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 6. If you're interested in donating, meals on Wheels has also set-up an Amazon wish-list. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, you can click here .