This season, many Schuylkill County seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the Be a Santa to a Senior program. Sponsored by the local Home Instead Senior Care office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services to help with the gift collection and distribution. Program officials hope to collect 50 gifts in order to help more than 50 area seniors.Fairlane Village Mall will display a Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas tree from Nov. 14-Dec. 12 featuring ornaments with seniors' first names and their gift requests. Shoppers can pick ornaments, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.Program partners and volunteers will wrap and distribute the gifts to local seniors.For more information, see BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 570-581-8692.