Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Discover how Santa Claus for Seniors brings joy and combat loneliness among elderly residents in care facilities through heartfelt letters and thoughtful gifts.
In 2018, Roksana and Mateusz Góral had a spontaneous idea born out of empathy: to support seniors in a Warsaw nursing home during the Christmas season by asking them to write letters expressing their wishes. Today, this initiative has evolved into the “Santa Claus for Seniors” Foundation, with an annual program known as the “Letters Campaign.” What started with a single care facility has expanded to include dozens of locations, thousands of heartfelt letters, and millions of dollars in support.
However, the impact of this initiative cannot be measured solely in numbers. It goes beyond financial and material assistance. It is about combating the loneliness and neglect often experienced by elderly residents in care facilities. While most of us associate Christmas with warmth and family, for these seniors, it can be the loneliest time of the year. The “Santa Claus for Seniors” initiative rekindles their childlike joy, reminding them that dreams can still come true.
Each year, the foundation collects and shares the letters online, connecting donors with seniors in need. The culmination of the campaign occurs during Christmas Eve celebrations in the care facilities, where not only material needs are met but also emotional connections are forged. The real gift is the magic of the season, bringing hope and restoring faith in the goodness of humanity.
“Santa Claus for Seniors” proves that the spirit of Santa Claus lives on, not in a white beard and red suit, but within each of us. In this year’s edition, over 15,000 letters from care facility residents across Poland await their Santa.