Local people will once again have the chance to help seniors in need through the Be a Santa to a Senior program.

“The Be a Santa to a Senior program is all about including seniors in the joy of the holiday season,” said Larry Neal, owner of the Suffolk Home Instead Senior Care office with his wife, Nell Neal. “A simple gift shows them they are a loved and vital member of our community.”

This is the ninth year the Suffolk office has participated in the company-wide program. Local folks who want to help can visit two locations and choose an ornament from the tree with a senior’s first name and gift suggestions. They then purchase the gifts and return them with the ornament to the original location. There is no need to wrap the items — community volunteers will wrap and deliver the gifts to local seniors in time for the holidays.

This year, about 90 residents at Autumn Care will be the recipients.

“These 90 people will have a blessing they didn’t expect to have,” said Deneen Evans from Home Instead Senior Care.

All of the ornaments on the tree feature gift suggestions for the seniors like blankets, large-print word search and more. Each ornament also includes a specific gift request from the senior — things like perfume and a small radio, among other things.

“There’s so many elderly everywhere that are underprivileged,” Larry Neal said. “They always seem to be the ones that are forgotten. This is just a way to thank them.”

“When you give back, it gives you rewards,” Nell Neal said.

Gifts must be returned by Dec. 9. You can visit Home Instead Senior Care at 2000 Hillpoint Blvd. N. in Suffolk or Jaimie’s Classy Cuts and Nails at 79 E. Windsor Blvd. Unit B in Windsor to get your ornament.

Call 774-5051 for more information on the program.