Volunteers Nalla Glen (left) and Abby Barker assist with gift sorting. (Submitted)
In the face of unprecedented challenges during the holiday season due to COVID-19, WAMY Community Action was still able to provide gifts to seniors in the region through its Santa for Seniors program.
In the program’s second year, WAMY Community Action Development Director Ashley Cook said the community support was “phenomenal” in light of the circumstances.
“We were hesitant and somewhat worried about the community support we’d receive this year, because it’s been a rough year for everyone all around, but it was amazing,” Cook said. “The heart this community has is mind-blowing.”
The program raised $2,233.44 and delivered 724 gifts in Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. Recipients of gifts included hospice patients, home delivered meals clients, like Meals on Wheels, many nursing homes and each person that was referred to the program.
After conducting a community needs assessment, WAMY Community Action noticed one of the largest gaps in the community is the support and services for the senior population. In an effort to help provide support to seniors, particularly shut-ins, WAMY Community Action started the Santa for Seniors program in 2019.
“Our original goal was to assist and serve seniors who are shut-ins and home-bound,” Cook said. “A lot of seniors can be forgotten and don’t get the attention and love they need and deserve because it’s like they are out of sight, out of mind.”
The program worked with meal delivery programs and hospice initially, but then moved its support to nursing homes, as well.
“Our initial thought was that nursing homes already had plenty of community support, but this year with COVID, nursing homes became shut-ins too,” Cook said. “It was really important this year to meet the needs but also expand because of how isolating this year was to many seniors.”
For nearly 60 years, WAMY Community Action has been working with individuals and families in an effort to break the cycle of poverty. The organization offers programs for housing repairs, senior services, family development and youth development.