Local senior residents are reaping the benefits of a tradition of generosity for the holiday season.

The Henry County Senior Services Department recently continued its Adopt-a-Senior program. The yuletide endeavor is geared toward homebound seniors in the county’s Meals on Wheels and in-home service programs.

Traci Terrell is the assistant director for Henry County Senior Services. She says the department launched Adopt-a-Senior a decade ago, particularly as a response to homebound clients without family members nearby.

“Depression increases around the holiday season, and most of these clients were spending the holidays alone, and with no gifts to unwrap,” she says. “We took the initiative to make [the program] happen. The Henry County community was very responsive, and now we have a program that exceeds our expectations. It has become something very special for those homebound seniors we serve.

“This program is so important for those that don’t have family locally, or none at all,” adds Terrell. “Those that deliver gifts are able to check on the clients and chat for a while. Sometimes that means everything.

Terrell says recent events, locally and around the world, shine a spotlight on the personal touch that comes with the program.

“The Adopt-A-Senior program is always a vital part of what we do, but coming out of the pandemic, we are able to get those handshakes and hugs that we may have not been able to during COVID-19,” she says.

Adopt-a-Senior serves more than 100 homebound seniors for the holidays each year. As part of the program, wish lists go out to the seniors in late October, and the event is advertised in November. Gifts arrive in early December, says Terrell, who has delivered them for Adopt-a-Senior in Henry for 11 years.

Simply put, she calls it “my favorite day of the year.”

“Each senior receives several items per person,” she says. “Prior wish lists have included washcloths, towels, toasters, coffee makers, bed sheets, bathing/laundry items, slippers, hats, and scarves, etc. The seniors can also add items that they need. Some clients, in the past, have asked for gift cards as well.

“The response we receive from seniors is always very positive,” continued Terrell. “The seniors are very appreciative of the gifts they receive.”