When she came to the Benjamin Church Senior Center nine years ago, then-assistant director Donna Wilson noticed the lack of Christmas-based programs for the seniors. Now the senior center director, Wilson has been organizing a foster senior program since she first arrived.

The program aims to provide for seniors during Christmas and is similar in style to programs such as Toys for Tots. Many of the seniors suffer from financial instability and get some aid from programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“It’s pretty sad because a lot of them are on a fixed income,” Wilson said. “Some of them only get $23 a month from SNAP. What do you do with that?”

Wilson’s passion for helping seniors goes back to her childhood. Wilson, who grew up in Bristol, was partially raised by her grandmother, who contributed to the raising of Wilson and 15 of her cousins. She says that the program was done in her memory of her grandmother.

“My grandmother would do packages of ingredients for bread, and then she would put $5 in. She and I and my other cousins would go and deliver it to certain people who couldn’t afford it,” Wilson said.

Today’s senior foster program follows that same spirit and relies on private donations. Upstairs at the senior center, a room is filled with items for seniors, ranging from blankets and mittens to puzzles and DVDs. Lists for what specific seniors need come from a variety of places, such as the Benjamin Church senior housing right next door and the Franklin Court homes for assisted and independent living in downtown Bristol.

Last year, the senior foster program enjoyed its most successful year yet, with more than 350 seniors served. Volunteers go to the senior’s doors with the items, often with some other special guest, such as students from the local elementary schools or St. Nick himself. Wilson said the skeptical response to strangers knocking on the door changes the moment they see who is there.

“I’m like, ‘Santa said you were a good boy or girl,’ and then they just all of a sudden melt,” Wilson said.

She said the seniors still want to believe in the power of Christmas, just as the children do.

The senior center accepts donations up to a week before Christmas, after which they begin to go to each house with the gifts. Wilson says this has to do with the fact that a lot of focus is on the charities for the children earlier in the holiday season.

To learn more about the program or to donate, call the senior center at 401-253-8458 or email Donna Wilson at dwilsonbcsc@gmail.com.