CLEARFIELD – With Christmas time quickly approaching, senior citizens in the Clearfield area sometimes need special attention. Whether their family lives out of town or they don’t have family at all, sometimes people living alone, especially around the holidays need a little extra attention, according to Rikki Ross, marketing and events coordinator at the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging.
Some of the nicest gifts to give a senior citizen aren’t always gifts, the most important gift to any elderly person is your time, Ross said. Other nice gifts angled toward senior citizens are gift certificates for restaurants they enjoy, purchasing a cleaning service, purchasing a SMART card for participating local restaurants, a photo album of family pictures, attend church service on Christmas Eve and even taking them on a ride to see the Christmas decorations and lights.
The Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging (CCAAA) does a variety of things for senior citizens in Clearfield County around Christmas time. One of the biggest things the CCAAA does for these seniors is through the Meals on Wheels & More program. They create special boxes called “blizzard boxes” that are sent to those who are delivered Meals on Wheels hot meals daily. There are approximately 1,000 people delivered blizzard boxes in Clearfield County, Ross said. Blizzard boxes are administered based on bad weather and the consumer is encouraged to save the blizzard box for inclement weather, when it may not be possible for their daily, hot meal to be delivered. Blizzard boxes contain three meals, which are nutritious and provide the person with something to eat during severe winter weather.
Ross also said that sometimes weather doesn’t permit these meals to be delivered, and that the CCAAA has made it their responsibility to call every person that is supposed to be delivered a meal to notify them that it will not be delivered.
“If we can’t deliver a meal, we make sure to call and notify the person,” Ross said, “as well as check on them to make sure they’re okay.” Ross said that there have been situations where someone doesn’t have any heat or food, and the CCAAA make it their mission to take care of the person and make sure that doesn’t happen.
“We encourage family and neighbors to check on seniors, especially around the holidays,” Ross said.
There is also the Tree of Stars that is their annual holiday appeal. The Tree of Stars gives the opportunity to remember or honor a loved one that has passed away. Funds raised through the appeal are used for the Meals on Wheels & More and in-home services. For each donation given, a personalized white star is hung on the live holiday tree in front the CCAAA location on Front Street. Donations exceeding $50 will be given a gold star, as well as an ornament and be considered a “gold star” donor.
Any questions about services provided by the CCAAA should contact their agency at 814-765-2696 or online at www.ccaaa.net.
