NASHUA – While the Nashua senior activity has been keeping a watchful eye on its senior members, Santa Claus brought a few of his elves to spread a little holiday cheer on last week.

Senior center development director Judy Porter said that since the center could not have a holiday social this year due to the pandemic, they would offer something that would provide seniors with a special event to keep spirits lively.

“We wanted the seniors to have some type of connection,” she said. “Even if they saw a few familiar faces waving at them, or cars near them, we wanted to provide something that would connect them with people from the senior center to get some gifts and for them to feel some hope.”

Porter pointed out that the event was non-denominational and was for folks, “that didn’t even need to celebrate Christmas.”

Car after car was greeted by Santa’s elves as well as the big guy himself. Porter said people signed up in advance and the center filled 100 slots in fast time.

“There was that need for people to connect for the holiday,” she said. “Because a lot of the seniors have been really couped up due to the pandemic. They’ve been staying safe and haven’t seen their friends or relatives in some cases.”

The safe event meant that folks could stay in the cars and the goody bags were either placer in the trunk or in the backseat of the people’s vehicles.

“Everyone was checked in and stayed completely safe,” Porter said. “People were masks or face shields.”

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, who supplied goodies as well as cash donations, the senior center helped make the season bright for many seniors.

“This gave our sponsors a chance to connect with seniors as well,” Porter continued. “Because there are businesses in town that you get to know over time and you know that when you reach out to them, they will always be there for you.”

Porter noted that Jimmy Kacavas at Allen Mello Dodge and Fred Daniels at the Center for Physical Therapy and Exercise in particular rose to the occasion, donating monies to the center.

“To have a connection with businesses like that,” she said, “where the first thing they ask is, ‘How can I help you with this event? Do you need funds for this event?’ It’s so heartwarming on the non-profit development end to know that you have those businesses that you can depend on and the people who are cheerleaders for seniors in the community.”

Other sponsors include Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Anthem, Silverstone Living, and Benchmark Senior Living.

Porter said the extra funds allowed the center to have cookies made from a bakery in Vermont, “A Dozen Eggs,” as well as covering incidental expenses like gift bags and tissue paper.

“They’re really high-end vegan cookies,” she said. “One of our seniors has a relative who owns the bakery. We were even able to put tags on the cookies. And I can’t even imagine how they did that for us – they did them at such a discounted price.”

Throughout the pandemic, Porter said the center has served as a resource seniors, fielding questions about COVID-19, how to apply for unemployment and where they could get food or Meals on Wheels.

“We’re very happy to serve as that clearing house for information or be able to give them the proper source so they can find that needed information. We’ve fielded all sorts of questions.”

Porter said the center is in contact with Nashua’s public health department on a regular basis.

“We want seniors have all the information they need about getting the vaccine,” Porter said.