Local residents are once again invited to spread a little holiday cheer for area seniors this year.

The Henry County Council on Aging and the Henry County Senior Services Department recently kicked off the annual Adopt-A-Senior for Christmas program.

The county launched Adopt-A-Senior program than a decade ago, said Senior Services Director Diane Reed. She said each client is asked to complete a wish list, and local residents then have the opportunity to purchase gifts for them.

“We average about 250-300 a year that we provide Christmas for,” said Reed.

Adopt-A-Senior is designed as a way for residents, churches, businesses or other organizations to provide gifts for residents age 60 and older, many of whom are homebound and on a fixed income.

Ann Marie Quincey coordinates the Adopt A Senior program each year in Henry County. She said the process of securing gifts begins well before the holiday season.

“I start sending the wish lists out in September,” said Quincey. “They fill them out and send them back in. I’m in the process now of sending them out to people who want to adopt somebody.”

In the past, gifts primarily consisted of personal-care items for area seniors. However, said Quincey, Senior Services shifted the program’s focus four years ago, in favor of a more personalized approach.

“We ask them if they have any hobbies, what their clothes sizes are, if they have any allergies,” said Quincey, adding that seniors can also requests crafts and other items of interest as possible gifts.

“We find out what they want. It gives people more to choose from while they’re shopping. Everybody liked it a lot better. Not everybody wants a new towel set every year.”

Quincey said the program has enjoyed a good response from the community since its inception.

“Every year, every senior gets adopted,” she said. “People who are familiar with the program start calling me in November asking if the list is out, because they don’t want to get left out.”

Items can be wrapped or placed in gift bags and delivered to any Henry County Senior Center no later than December 10. Gifts will be delivered to seniors December 13-21.

For more information about the Adopt-A-Senior program, call Ann Marie Quincey at 770-288-7000. For more on Senior Services, visit henrycounty-ga.com/SeniorServices.aspx.