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The City of Andalusia’s Adult Activity Center and Senior Nutrition staff members are seeking sponsors for their Praying Hands program.

The staff organizes the gift drive for homebound senior citizens each fall, making sure that no seniors are forgotten at Christmas.

Adult Activity Center director Sonja Godwin said Gov. Ivey’s restrictions on senior centers across the state in light of the pandemic make it slightly more difficult to get the drive organized, but she and other staff members are determined to find ways to make the drive work.

Gov. Ivey ordered all senior centers closed in March, when the state first shut down public places in an effort to contain the pandemic. Although much of the state has reopened, the governor’s current Safer at Home Order allows senior centers to offer delivered or take-out lunches, but no social gathering.

“Typically, we ask people to come by and pick up an information sheet on a senior from our Praying Hands tree,” Godwin said. “This year, we are seeking helpers to make Christmas special for 45 individuals, all of whom are 60 years or older and are homebound.”

The senior adults were asked to complete questionnaires about their Christmas wishes, and the AAC staff is asking adopters to participate in one of two ways.

“You can call our office at 222-6891 to choose your praying hands revealing a homebound senior’s wishes,” Godwin said. “We ask that you spend no less than $40 per person.”

Alternately, she said, individuals can make a financial contribution and the AAC staff will shop for the senior adults. Gifts should be dropped at the Adult Activity Center no later than Monday, November 30.

For additional information, call Godwin at 222-6891 or email her at sonja.godwin@cityofandalusia.com.