CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Commission on Aging will be making local seniors’ Christmas seasons extra special through “Santa for Seniors,” a program created to provide Christmas spirit and support to the community.
Cullman Commission on Aging Customer Service Representative Ava King said the idea was simple — to make sure every homebound senior in the program received a personally selected Christmas gift — not a random present, but something they truly wanted.
“Each homebound senior receives a short form to fill out, sharing a little about themselves — their interests, and items on their wish list,” King said. “Once those forms are returned, local businesses, churches and individuals can ‘Adopt a Senior,’ choosing an ornament from a Christmas tree that lists one senior’s name and their wishes.”
King shared there’s something truly special about the Christmas season in Cullman County, but for many of the hometown seniors who can no longer leave their homes, Christmas magic can sometimes feel far away.
“At the Cullman County Commission on Aging, we are blessed with the opportunity to serve these very seniors through our home-delivered meal program, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS), the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG), the Cullman County Commission and the United Way of Cullman County,” King said. “Each day, a warm, nutritious meal is delivered right to their door. But over time, our volunteers have discovered that what means even more than the food is friendship. As volunteers stop by each day, they learn about the lives of these remarkable seniors. They hear their stories, their worries, and sometimes, their wishes — things as simple as warm socks, a cozy blanket or a favorite brand of lotion they can no longer afford. What began as a daily meal delivery became something more profound: a window into their hearts and their needs. And out of that compassion, ‘Santa for Seniors’ was born.”
King said, from there, the real fun begins.
“Gifts are bought, wrapped with care and packaged with love,” King said. “Then, just before Christmas, our staff and volunteers deliver the presents — along with plenty of hugs, laughter and holiday cheer.”
There are several ways the community can help make Santa for Seniors a success:
–Adopt a senior: If your business or organization would like to host a Christmas tree, the COA will provide ornaments — one ornament equals one senior. Each ornament includes that senior’s wish list.
–Donate financially: Every dollar makes a difference. No amount is too small or too large when it comes to bringing joy to someone’s Christmas morning.
–Wrap gifts: Wrapping day is one of the happiest events of the season! The COA needs plenty of helping hands to make sure every gift is beautifully wrapped, so seniors can experience the anticipation and joy of unwrapping a special gift picked just for them.
King said each of their full-time senior centers delivers meals to multiple homebound seniors five days per week. On average, they serve around 140 homebound seniors across the county through the following locations:
• Colony Senior Center — 12980 Alabama Highway 91, Hanceville, AL 35077
• Crane Hill Senior Center — 15140 County Road 222, Crane Hill, AL 35053
• Cullman Senior Center — 1539 Sportsman Lake Road NW, Cullman, AL 35058
• Fairview Senior Center — 660 Welcome Road, Cullman, AL 35058
• Hanceville Senior Center — 209 Michelle St. NW, Hanceville, AL 35077
• Holly Pond Senior Center — 2211 Lions Park Road, Holly Pond, AL 35083
• West Point Senior Center — 3990 County Road 1141, Vinemont, AL 35179
“Our 2025 goal is to reach every homebound senior in our program — that’s 140 seniors, with an estimated cost of $100 per senior, for a total goal of $14,000,” King said. “Santa for Seniors is more than a program — it’s a reminder that compassion still shines brightest in small towns like ours. It’s neighbors helping neighbors, churches and businesses stepping up and volunteers wrapping not just gifts, but love. Because at the end of the day, Christmas isn’t just about what’s under the tree — it’s about the hearts we touch and the joy we share.”
King shared how to get involved:
“We are inviting local businesses to set up a Christmas Tree decorated with special ornaments. Each ornament will represent one of our homebound seniors. One ornament = one senior. On the back of each ornament, you’ll find a wish list and clothing sizes personally selected by that senior to help guide your gift shopping. Gifts should be wrapped and delivered to the Commission on Aging by Dec. 3. If needed, we’re happy to come by and pick them up. If you need wrapping supplies, just let us know — we’ll bring some your way. If any of your team would like to help deliver the gifts, we’d love to have you join us during the week of Dec.8-12. A friendly smile and a kind word can mean so much.”
For more information, please contact Ava King at the Cullman County Commission on Aging at 256-734-1241 or aking@co.cullman.al.us.
