Santa seeks assistance at HLRC

Santa Clause will be making his tenth straight visit to the Hi-Line Retirement Center on December 24 as part of the Angel Tree program and is once again looking for assistance from all the good boys and girls in Phillips County for a helping hand.

Each year at Christmas time, residents at the HLRC jot down a few items they wouldn't mind receiving this year on the backside of hand-designed ornaments – this year colored by Malta Headstart students – which are hung from the Christmas tree in the center's dayroom. Last year, there were 52 such ornaments adorning the dayroom's tree and each 52 Christmas wish lists were fulfilled.

"Last year went wonderfully," said Karen Salsbury, Activities Assistant at the HLRC. "Every request was filled and the residents really enjoyed all that they received."

This year, there are currently 66 ornaments on the tree which has been up for about a week and so far the ornaments have been retrieved by resident's family members and friends as well as HLRC staff members.

"This is a really nice way for the residents and the community to come together," Salsbury said. "The residents really enjoy when people come in to visit and this is just another way to celebrate the holidays."

The HLRC residents will also be having a Christmas Party on Saturday, December 12 starting at 2 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend (though people who would like to attend the event are asked to RSVP by December 10 by calling 654-1190, extensions 6025 or 6036.)

"The Wishers from Whitewater will be singing and there will be games, poems, little Christmas stories and that sort of thing," said Salsbury.

Those interested in helping Santa with the Angel Tree this year are asked to pull an ornament from the tree, take the ornament to the nurses' station and write your name and number on the back of the ornament, purchase the gifts requested and return them to the HLRC giftwrapped no later than Monday, December 21.