Stella, 93, from Batavia, opens a gift from an Adopt-a-Senior donor. She was overwhelmed by the number of gifts she received and how beautifully they were wrapped. She was especially thrilled with her new bed pillow. She said, “They get kind of flat after 30 years!”
The community came through in a big way this holiday season.

Clermont Senior Services is reporting that the 2011 Adopt-a-Senior holiday program has been its most successful ever.

“We had 460 senior citizens ‘adopted’ for the holidays,” said Clermont Seniors’ Communications Director Linda Eppler. “Citizens, businesses, churches and Scout troops provided gifts to lower-income seniors across Clermont County.

Many of the seniors are alone with no family nearby and live without the basics that many of us take for granted; the generosity of the community will help make the holidays a little brighter.”

The seniors’ wish lists included items like cleaning supplies and bath towels.

Eppler said one elderly man who received his gifts last week told a Clermont Seniors volunteer, “I am trying to hold off until Christmas to open my gifts. But, I may get excited and have to open them early!”

Thousands of gifts were donated to the Adopt-a-Senior program this year, along with $3,000 in cash and numerous gift cards.

“The many smiles, tears, and words of thanks are so rewarding,” said Eppler. “Thank you and happy holidays to everyone who had a part in making this program the best one ever.” Additional information about the Clermont Adopt-a-Senior program is available on the website www.ClermontSeniors.com.