Kay Hahn Casler of Vestal will come bearing gifts for the holidays when she visits older residents in their homes next week.
“It’s a great opportunity to give somebody some comfort and joy at Christmas time,” she said.
Hahn Casler is one of 85 active volunteers for Faith in Action, a program run through the Broome County Council of Churches. Volunteers help senior citizens with tasks such as grocery shopping and driving them to medical appointments so they can remain in their homes, said Sue Spencer, the program director for Faith in Action Volunteers.
“We just provide services to senior citizens in Broome County, helping them to remain independent,” she said.
Many of the program’s 157 clients live alone. They may not have any family to visit them and bring them gifts or they may have family that lives far away, Spencer said.
“The holidays are not always happy times for everybody,” she said.
But Faith in Action’s Silver Bells program makes sure that no senior in their program is forgotten this time of year. All will receive a gift to unwrap on Christmas Day, Spencer said.
“They like being remembered and enjoy getting something to open,” she said of the seniors. Many of them can’t drive to do their own shopping, and don’t know how to order items online.
Planning for the program starts in October when volunteers and staff ask the seniors about their wish list, Spencer said. Popular gift requests include new pajamas, sweaters, gift cards to local grocery stores and stamps.
Then, tags with the recipient’s first name and gift they want to receive are sent to six local churches: All Saints Episcopal Church in Johnson City, Our Lady of Sorrows in Vestal, Park Terrace United Methodist Church of Apalachin, Vestal United Methodist Church, United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton, and Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church of Johnson City. Church members take a tag, buy the gift for the senior and return the gift to their church.
“Churches are very generous,” Spencer said. “They love to do it.”
Gifts are being collected from the churches this week. Volunteers will deliver the gifts next week, Spencer said.
“Spreading a little joy is good for the volunteers and good for the person receiving the gift,” Spencer said. “Our volunteers enjoy it, too. They enjoy being Santa for a day.”
An 11-year volunteer for Faith in Action, Hahn Casler looks forward to delivering gifts next week, she said.
“When you take it to them, they’re always excited,” she said of the seniors she visits. “Part of it is having somebody knock on their door and come to visit them. It’s great to see the smile on their faces.”
Pat Maraghy, an eight-year volunteer, will play Santa Claus for her elderly neighbors in Johnson City next week.
“They’re all just so happy to see you bringing them something,” she said. “It’s very rewarding.”
Maraghy said she enjoys driving people to doctor’s appointments and grocery stores. She shops for some of her older charges, too.
“You get to know your people,” she said. “You get to be good friends.”
How to help
To volunteer for Faith in Action, call Sue Spencer at (607) 724-9130, ext. 304 or leave a message on the contact section of https://broomecouncil.net