Gifts in silver

In addition to selling their usual wares and services, this holiday season several area businesses played the role of Santa Claus for seniors in Clovis, Portales and Farwell.

Called "Silver Bells," organizer Kristy Forrest said she reached out to local nursing homes to get a list of residents and what they might want for Christmas. The requests were a mix of resident requests and staff suggestions of what a resident might like.

She then made silver and red ornaments featuring the gift requests and hung them on Christmas trees in businesses around the area. Forrest said participating businesses included Sparkle Cleaners, Fat Boys Barbecue, Glass Doctor, Clovis Sign, Studio M, Dye Trying, Yo Tea Go, the Clovis Civic Center and Do Drop In in Portales.

Customers were encouraged to take an ornament, purchase the gift and deliver it to the business. Forrest said residents certainly got in the Christmas spirit, donating enough gifts for 405 seniors in Clovis and Portales, plus some extras to bring to Farwell.

Gifts were delivered Friday, Sunday and Monday afternoon throughout the area.

"The community has come together like crazy to make this happen," Forrest said.

She said many of the gift requests were simple items like shampoo, blankets or chocolate.

"A lot of them were basic things that aren't a big deal to us - that we just buy not even thinking about it - and that's what they wanted for Christmas. So I think a lot of people reacted to that so much because it wasn't anything big," Forrest said.

Denisha Cleare, owner of Yo Tea Go, one of the participating businesses, said she used to visit nursing homes often so she wanted to get involved with Silver Bells to show local seniors the community cares about them.

"I think it's awesome, a good way to spread cheer to the elders and give them an opportunity to be loved on," Cleare said.

Roberta Lansford, a gift recipient at Bee Hive Homes in Clovis, enjoyed receiving a novel, adult coloring book, colored pencils and a card.

"I'm surprised and overwhelmed, and I don't know what to do," Lansford said. "I'm happy."

Forrest said that's been a common reaction.

"The deliveries have been so awesome, like crying every single time. Just one person telling them 'Merry Christmas' or saying 'hi' to them can make their day," she said.

Forrest was appreciative of the support from other businesses to host the Silver Bells on their trees and for A-Key Storage providing a place to store over 400 gifts.

"They were all super awesome and helping people with questions and anything like that. Without all those businesses it would have been so hard to make this happen but it went over really well because of it," Forrest said.

Forrest and other volunteers delivered gifts to Bee Hive Homes in Clovis and Portales, Wheatfields Senior Living Community, St. Anthony Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, All Care Assisted Living, Retirement Ranch, Heartland Continuing Care Center and made home deliveries with the help of the Curry Resident Senior Meals Association.

Andrea Lupo with Sparkle Cleaners, which donated its van to make the deliveries, said she's already looking forward to next year's iteration of Silver Bells.

"I'm excited to do this next year. It's going to be bigger and better. We're getting all the kinks out," Lupo said.