Immediate Release
October 19, 2009 Batavia, Ohio. Every time he changes his bed, he washes the same raggedy sheets and then puts them back on the bed. This member of our community needs his money to purchase life-saving medicine. New sheets and a warm blanket will have to wait. This is the true story of an elderly man who lives in Clermont County; sadly, his story is not unique. In every community, there are many who are living on a fixed income that has senior citizens deciding whether to purchase food, warm clothes, or medicine; they can afford one but not all three.
Can you adopt a senior this holiday season? Clermont Senior Services is looking for individuals, families, civic groups, churches, and businesses willing to donate items to make the holidays a little brighter for hundreds of needy older members of our community. “Because they are on a limited income, the seniors have a hard time purchasing items many of us take for granted, like dish cloths, soap, and laundry detergent,” said Adopt-a-Senior coordinator Sharon Brumagem. “It breaks your heart to see how little some of these men and women ask for.”
Those interested in the Adopt-a-Senior program will be matched with a senior that has filled out a wish list of items he or she needs. Donors can purchase one or more items on the list, whatever fits their budget. The items can be wrapped with the first name of the senior and his/her identification number; donors then drop-off the packages to Clermont Senior Services offices, located at 2085A James Sauls, Sr. Drive in Batavia. Volunteers will deliver the gifts before Christmas.
Brumagem said that in addition to the holiday program, items are needed in the gift pantry all year long. “Sheets, pillows, blankets, laundry detergent, bleach, dryer sheets, kitchen towels, pull-on sweat pants, socks, underwear, supplemental drinks (like Boost), and gift cards to supermarkets are always needed,” she said. “Each year, 400 seniors in this community are helped through this adoption/donation program and the seniors are so thankful.”
For information on adopting a senior or donating to the gift pantry, e-mail Sharon Brumagem at Clermont Senior Services at sbrumagem@clermontseniors.com or call (513) 536-4060.
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For additional information about this or other county news, contact Clermont County Communications Director Kathryn Lehr at (513) 732-7597 or by e-mail, klehr@co.clermont.oh.us.