Troy Health & Rehabilitation Center will celebrate Christmas with its residents on December 16 when Santa Claus makes a visit to the facility.

Santa has so many people of all ages to visit this year that he needs some help in packing his huge gift sack.

Jeanette Dawkins, TH&RC activities director, said the Center currently has 168 residents and some of them don’t have family members or friends nearby and, therefore, don’t often have visitors.

“We want Christmas to be a happy time for all of our residents and they all enjoy receiving gifts,” Dawkins said. “So, we have an Adopt-a-Resident program where people from the local area can adopt a resident for the Christmas season in an effort to make sure all of our residents get gifts at Christmas.”

Dawkins said those who adopt a resident are given a number, not a name, and a corresponding “wish list” that includes items that would be appropriate for the person represented by that number.

“The lists usually include personal items like lotion and toothpaste and slippers or socks,” she said and added that the residents get great enjoyment just from opening packages.

There are still residents at TH&RC who are available for adoption for Christmas.

Those who would like to adopt a resident may do so by calling Dawkins at 566-0880 or 566-9575.

The deadline to deliver Christmas gifts for the residents to TH&RC is Tuesday.

“If someone would rather make a monetary donation and let a staff member do the shopping for a resident, we will be glad to arrange that by calling 566-0880 or 566-9575 or the same numbers for more information.”