Cherokee Adopt-A-Senior Program Still Needs Help

A little over 100 Cherokee County seniors still need to be adopted for the holiday season.

That's according to the Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency, which is working with the Cherokee County Senior Services department to coordinate its Adopt-A-Senior program this year.

The deadline to participate in the agency's program is Friday and 108 seniors still need to be adopted by volunteers, said CRPA Recreation Coordinator Frankie Sanders.

Those who volunteer to help will be asked to put together a gift bag that should include a terry cloth towel set, stationary and envelopes, a book of stamps, lotion and a special card or note to the senior all placed in a holiday themed gift bag. 

Volunteers will be then asked to drop off their gift bags at Cherokee Recreation and Parks Agency's office at 7545 Main Street Building 200 in Woodstock. The deadline to drop off packages is Dec. 7.

Sanders said 250 seniors have already been adopted by Woodstock Market, and the company is putting together care packages for those individuals. 

The seniors who will be adopted participate in the county's Meals on Wheels, Congregate Meals or Homemaker programs.

Seniors enrolled in those programs, Sanders added, "typically" don't have family nearby to help them throughout the year, which she said makes them "appreciate the gifts more than anyone could imagine."

Cherokee County Senior Services Director Nathan Brandon added many of the seniors in their programs also need "extra nutritional support" due to the lack of family.

He also said the volunteers with the department's program also help brighten the lives of the seniors they serve.

"In addition to nutritional support, the social aspect of the visit from the volunteer can’t be under-emphasized," he added. "They enjoy that daily knock at the door." 

This is the second year CRPA has partnered with senior services to run the program and Brandon added CRPA last year did a "great job" handling the initiative.

CRPA is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. 

For more information, call CRPA at (770) 924-7768 or email Sanders at fsanders@cherokeega.com.