Toy drives are a holiday staple just about everywhere; people will play unsuspecting "Secret Santas" for children and teens who need gifts. But according to Simone Mitchell-Peterson, Executive Director of Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly, 355 N. Ashland, it's the senior citizens who, more often than not, get bypassed in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. "We're living in a very youth oriented, youth focused society where it's so easy to overlook the elderly," says Mitchell-Peterson. "They are individuals who have contributed significantly to society and we need to honor and respect them."

It's the mission of the organization to not only help the elderly with their needs, but to offer a means to be social, even if family and friends aren't around. "Nobody plans to grow old alone. But it happens. So they count on us to be there," adds Mitchell-Peterson, who notes that their organization serves more than one thousand seniors in the city. "Not only for socialization, but also friendship. To share the ups and downs of life as they go through the last stage of their life."

The Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly was founded in 1959, and serves as a place where seniors can gather to do everything from enjoy meals, participate in parties and music programs, as well as get together for everything from book clubs to ceramics clubs.

There are 48 staff members at the organization, but there are more than 300 people who volunteer their time with the seniors, doing everything from cooking and making meals for the homebound, to just stopping by and chatting to keep them company for an afternoon. She says last year, volunteers clocked in 53,000 hours at the agency. "The visiting volunteers have established long term relationships with some of our elders. Some people have been visiting them for seven, eight years. And they are with them until the day they die," says Mitchell-Peterson.

The Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly also hold weekly parties for seniors. For three Wednesdays a month, the elders are invited to a lunch, which also serves as a little party. And once a month on Saturdays, there are afternoon parties held for those celebrating birthdays. Those events bring in anywhere from 50-80 seniors, all of whom want to have a chance to socialize with their peers and the volunteers.

"They are served a wonderful three course meal and there's also fabulous entertainment for them," says Mitchell-Peterson, who says that aside from providing the seniors an onsite center to meet, many volunteers spend time with them in their own homes.

"We probably distribute anywhere between 75 and 85 food bags to elders who are in need of extra nutritional support. And those bags are delivered by volunteers who spend quality time to visit. Just to check in and make sure they're doing OK."

According to Mitchell-Peterson, the agency gets no money from the federal government and relies solely on contributions from individuals, corporations, as well as foundations. She says their holiday gift program is put together with the staff and volunteers to make sure every senior who comes to the center gets a chance to receive a gift.

"They hear what that person wants in a gift. We put that in a data base and then we solicit donors and other community partners," says Mitchell-Peterson. "Getting a unique gift, no matter what age you are, is special. It means 'people thought about me. Someone took the time and cared'.