Program

Did you know that one in five of our senior neighbors either live alone, are homebound, or are on a fixed income? They often cannot provide themselves with the things they need, including social connection. Santa for Seniors was founded in 2017 to address the growing public health crisis of senior isolation. Our program works to reverse social isolation by honoring and recognizing seniors as vital members of our community. 

Through year-round engagement, Santa for Seniors works with partners throughout the Pacific Northwest to bring much-needed, meaningful gifts year-round and provide resources to isolated seniors. The program strengthens social connections, fosters meaningful interactions, and connects older adults with essential community resources. 

Our mission is to combat the negative effects of isolation through community engagement and access to resources, while supporting our vision of building intergenerational connections that support the physical and mental well-being of seniors and address social determinants of health.

While visiting his mother in her nursing home during the holidays, Bill Looney saw firsthand how many people didn’t have family or friends coming to visit. He took it upon himself to change that, and he and his wife Trudy began dressing up as Santa and Mrs. Claus to pass out gifts to those residents.

When Bill Looney passed in 2015, his family created the William A. Looney Family Foundation and they partnered with Lutheran Community Services Northwest and gifted 165 homebound seniors in Pierce County.

Our program kicked off in 2017 by gifting 778 seniors in Pierce County. Every year, we have increased the number of seniors who receive meaningful gifts and have expanded throughout western and eastern Washington and northern Oregon.