BELTON, Texas — December may be a month away, but the Belton Police Department has begun collecting donations for its 11th annual Silver Santa drive, which provides Christmas gifts to Belton seniors who are part of the city's RU OK Senior Welfare Program.
The RU OK program is a free service where participants receive a phone call to check in on them from volunteer callers, during which residents can say they are okay or voice a concern, which the volunteer can then help address.
According to the City of Belton, 97 participants in the RU OK program currently receive daily or weekly calls from volunteers. The City says the program has helped save 17 people from potentially life-saving situations since it began in 2013. More information on the program can be found at this link.
Through Silver Santa, each participant in the RU OK program receives a Christmas gift bag, said the City of Belton.
“Delivering these gift bags is more than just a gesture; it’s a reminder to our seniors that they are valued and remembered,” said RU OK Program Coordinator Anita Wyatt. “If we can make even one person feel less alone during this season, then it’s worth it to us.”
“Our Silver Santa program reflects our commitment to serving not just the community, but every individual within it,” said Belton Chief of Police Larry Berg. “We aim to strengthen the bonds that make Belton a caring place to live, ensuring that no one feels forgotten during the holidays.”
Donation boxes are reportedly available at the Belton Police Department, Belton Area Chamber of Commerce and Belton CVS. Donations will be accepted through Tuesday, Dec. 10 and the gift bags will be personally delivered to residents by officers in December.
Belton PD is asking for donations of the following items:
- Bandaids
- New blankets
- Jar openers
- Calendars
- New gloves
- Large print crossword puzzles
- Lip balm
- Boxed tissues
- Large print word-find puzzles
- Small notepads
- Small flashlights
- Large print jigsaw puzzles
- Pens
- Magnifying glasses
- Small hand lotion bottles
- New socks
- Personal hand sanitizer
- Large print playing cards
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