ROCKINGHAM — Although Thanksgiving is still a week away, a Christmas tree went up this week in the window of Nana’s Coffee Rocks.
Attached to the tree, aside from traditional decorations, are envelopes featuring the names of 50 local senior citizens — part of the Adopt-a-Senior program through Richmond County Aging Services.
Those envelopes contain a wish list of the wants or needs of the corresponding senior.
This is the fourth consecutive year coffee shop owner Sherry Roberts has put up a tree to help Aging Services provide presents to older residents. The tradition started in 2021 when Roberts was manager of the Speckled Paw, which she bought and renamed earlier this year.
Pam Hill, office and nutrition assistant for RCAS, started the Adopt-A-Senior program several years ago, originally focusing on Meals on Wheels recipients. However, it was expanded in 2021 to serve more clients.
Norton Farms is also participating for its second year.
This year, there are 119 seniors signed up for the program.
Hill said seniors are primarily asking for cleaning supplies, paper towels, facial tissue and lotion this year; in addition to things to keep warm, like heaters, flannel pajamas and fleece or heated blankets, as many get cold quicker being on blood thinners.
Other items on the wish lists include word search books, Bibles and Christian books, and supplements like Ensure and Boost.
“The community…has been awesome,” Hill said in reference to the wish lists being fulfilled each year.
Hill gave several examples from the past, including one person last year who asked for and received sleeping bags because she and several family members were homeless.
“This year, by the grace of God, they’re actually in a home,” Hill said.
Some residents, Hill added, have even made financial donations directly to Aging Services, which were used to purchase soup cups for seniors.
Those purchasing gifts are asked to have them dropped off by Dec. 12 to either of the two locations or Richmond County Aging Services. If the envelopes were taken from one of the two shop trees but presents are dropped off at Aging Services, purchasers are asked to contact the original location so they can be marked off the list.
Aging Services is also hosting its annual Senior Christmas Party Dec. 10 at Cole Auditorium. Tickets for the event are $5 each.
For more information on the Adopt-a-Senior program or other services, call Aging Services at 910-997-4491.
