Covington County citizens have a great opportunity to do something extra special for our “greatest generation” this holiday season.

“Santa for Seniors” is a grass-roots volunteer effort to share the Christmas spirit with seniors who are in need of basic necessities and home repairs and who are clients of Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging (SARCOA) or one of its senior centers in Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties.

Those who participate in the program can either donate money, or offer needed items such as bug spray, Ensure, blankets and food. Jessica Franklin, SARCOA’s community education coordinator, says that in the past donations have been used to help pay for seniors’ medical bills, utilities and other important needs.

And thanks to the power of the Internet, those who choose to help with the program can learn exactly what these senior citizens need the most. You can sponsor a senior by visiting SARCOA’s Web site at sarcoa.org to see a complete list of needs.

Sponsors can contact SARCOA in two ways: by telephone at 1-800-239-3507 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by e-mail at janice.berry@adss.alabama.gov. Please include contact info and the client or clients you wish to sponsor.