(MURFREESBORO) You've heard WGNS broadcasts about the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office' SCAN program (Senior Citizens Awareness Network). As the name implies, volunteers make regular contact with elderly persons living alone or those by themselves with health issues. That group is collecting Christmas gifts for SCAN clients, and other community groups are helping.
Members of the Heart Warmers at First United Methodist Church in La Vergne donated a variety of handmade items to the Sheriff's Senior Citizens Awareness Network members.
Member Leona Fletcher said the items include hats, scarves and lap gans, an afghan with a pocket to cover people in wheelchairs.
SCAN Coordinator E.T. Guice said the crocheted items will be given to SCAN members as part of their Christmas presents.
People who wish to donate to the senior citizens' Christmas may drop items off at the Sheriff's Office lobby at 940 New Salem Highway in Murfreesboro.
Gifts the senior citizens need include:
• Individually wrapped snacks like crackers.
• New stuffed animals.
• Toiletries such as lotions, shampoo, body wash and hand sanitizers.
• Socks.
• Pillows.
• Coloring books and crayons.
• Large print word puzzles and crossword puzzles.
Deputies and SCAN volunteers will deliver the gifts the week before Christmas.
SCAN volunteers help about 90 Rutherford County senior citizens by checking on their safety and welfare, delivering food and visiting them regularly.
People interested in volunteering are asked to call Guice at 615-904-3139.
