If seniors are needy, they, too, might get to be on Santa's list. 

For the second year in a row, a national home care provider to the elderly is running a gift-donation drive for about 300 local senior citizens. Home Instead Senior Care, which operates five branches in Allegheny County and one each in Westmoreland and Butler counties, launched the "Be a Santa to a Senior program" to reach out to the shut-ins or those without family nearby. The caregivers from Home Instead, an Omaha, Neb.-based franchise operation that bills itself as the world's largest provider of home care services for the elderly, work with local churches and social service agencies to identify how to help needy seniors. 

"Many seniors are without their families. Some are financially challenged and may not have some of the things they would like for themselves," said Carolyn Adams, who is coordinating the drive for the Mt. Lebanon branch. She plans to deliver gifts to 60 seniors at three elderly housing complexes in the South Hills. 
Most gifts are donated by shoppers who plucked the names of the beneficiaries from Christmas trees at Parkway Center Mall and various Kmart stores in the area. Each ornament on the tree bears a senior's first name and their wish list. The donation drive runs through Thursday. 

Shawn McConville, an aide with Home Instead for 2 1/2 years, came in on Friday, normally her day off, to help wrap gifts. "We realized a lot of seniors are in need of some cheering up," said McConville. "We do want to bring a little cheer into their lives." 

The gifts the seniors wish for are mostly essentials that will brighten up not only their holidays but also their lives. Adams said common on the list are blankets, gloves and gift certificates for prescription drugs. 

What matters also, said Reed Kovalan, owner of the Home Instead franchise in Regent Square, is the human touch that goes with the gift-giving. Many seniors on the Santa list rarely venture out or have any visitors. This year, Kovalan plans to deliver presents to 50 seniors, compared with 25 last year.