Ombudsmen given thanks

It is because of the friends of the Ombudsman Program in Ventura County and their generous giving to Operation Senior Santa this year that volunteers were able to hand-deliver gifts to over 2,000 elderly residents in long-term care facilities in Ventura County.

The response has been overwhelming, and those of us with the program cannot even begin to estimate how many people your thoughtfulness has personally touched.

We salute Ventura County Contractors Association, Damar Construction, Channel Islands Gulls, Amgen volunteers and staff, the Soroptimist Club and all the individuals who responded to our appeal letter. You have paid for all the gifts we bought to give away this year. Thank you.

Also, we want to offer a huge thankyou to all of you who crocheted and knitted the beautiful lap robes, shawls and blankets we gave away. Wonderful groups such as Heartwarmers, the Moorpark and Oxnard Senior Center ladies, Oxnard RSVP, Amgen Getting Hooked Crochet Group and all the individuals who donated over 600 handmade quilts, blankets and shawls- we appreciate your efforts so much.

Words cannot express the joy and happiness we saw over and over again on the faces of the residents who received your gifts. Many cried when our Santa and helpers handed them the blanket and stuffed bear. One resident, holding the bear next to her heart, said, "Santa, you are my only visitor this year; all my family are gone. Thank you, thank you!"

Please know that we could never do this without each and every one of you. Your compassion and support of Operation Senior Santa has brought such great love and joy to our forgotten institutionalized elderly, 60 percent of whom face the holidays with no family or friends to visit them or bring them a gift.

In the spirit of this holy season, we thank you from each of them. May God bless you. Sylvia Taylor-Stein, Executive director Long Term Care Services of Ventura County Inc.