Bringing Holiday Cheer to People in Need of Joy Livability in Action

Bringing Sparkle to People in Need of Joy

Volunteers from Silver Stars know how to give great gifts

Photo courtesy Silver Stars The SIlver Stars program has been spreading holiday joy since 1998. The holiday season is not the most wonderful time of year for everybody. For aging adults who live in isolation, or who are coping with the increasing loss of friends and family members, the end of the year can be a very unjolly, deeply depressing time. That’s why the Silver Stars program puts sparkle into the season for hundreds of older adults in Tarrant County, Texas, and the city of Fort Worth. “We just want them to know they’re not forgotten,” says Felicia Johnson of , which is part of program. About 200,000 of the county’s residents are 65 or over, and 8 percent of them live in poverty. Their needs are significant, but are sometimes overlooked in the scramble to serve the growing population of children in poverty. “We do so much for our kids — and they definitely need it — but we sometimes forget about our ‘older kids,’” says Johnson. In 2017, at eight community centers and a handful of senior living communities, Silver Stars elves hosted holiday parties and delivered care packages to about 600 low-income or isolated seniors. Volunteers from Meals on Wheels aided the effort throughout the county, which covers roughly 850 square miles. Every Silver Stars “present” contains items that were donated or purchased through donated funds. Typical gifts include toiletries, jigsaw puzzles, jumbo crossword books, magnifying glasses, manicure sets, gloves, scarves, hats, and blankets. “Blankets are the favorite,” says Johnson. “They really love a warm, colorful blanket.” This article is an excerpt from the "Inspire Community Engagement" chapter of the AARP book . Download or order your free copy. Learn more about what AARP is up to in Texas by connecting with . Article by Mary Ellen Flannery Book published June 2018 The weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities e-Newsletter provides local leaders with information and inspiration for making their town, city or neighborhood more livable for older adults and people of all ages.

AARP org Livable

Enter a topic, name, place, etc. See past issues:

Our Free Publications

See the complete list at

Follow Us

Facebook: Twitter:

Contact Us

Email AARP Livable Communities at .

Ask about the AARP Livability Index by completing this .

AARP Members: For questions about your benefits, AARP The Magazine or the AARP Bulletin, visit the page or call 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

Close In the next 24 hours, you will receive an email to confirm your subscription to receive emails related to AARP volunteering. Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly receive communications related to AARP volunteering. In the meantime, please feel free to search for ways to make a difference in your community at Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.