The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay collects holiday gifts for local seniors

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (November 22, 2016) – Children aren’t the only ones who are in need of gifts this holiday season. Many seniors are at risk of being forgotten.

In an effort to bring holiday cheer to seniors across Pinellas County, The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay is participating in Elves for Elders®, a community effort that provides gifts and seasonal cheer for needy elders who might otherwise be forgotten during the holiday season. The community, which provides independent living, assisted living and memory care, will serve as a drop-off location for the gift drive.

“Across the Tampa Bay area there are seniors in assisted living communities who don’t have a family to celebrate the holidays with,” said Suzanne Burtzlaff, executive director of The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay. “Without the help of organizations like Elves for Elders, these seniors might go without a single gift this year.”

An effort of the Senior Resource Committee of Better Living for Seniors Pinellas (BLS) and Aging Solutions, Inc., Elves for Elders is working to ensure that all seniors in Pinellas have a joyous holiday season. Over the last several months, case managers, activity directors, professional guardians and social workers have submitted names to the program based on individual need. Gifts include clothing, toiletries and other items.

Gift tags with the wants and needs of local seniors can be found in stores and businesses across Pinellas County, including Big Lots locations in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Seminole. Tags must be picked up no later than December 1 and unwrapped gifts dropped off to The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay and other participating locations prior to December 5.

“The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay is passionate about helping seniors, not only in our immediate community but in the greater area,” said Burtzlaff. “We’re honored to partner with such a great organization to ensure that no senior goes without a little holiday joy this season.”

For a full list of gift tag and drop off locations, visit the Elves for Elders website (www.elvesforelderspinellas.org).

About The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay

The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay is a retirement community situated on 14 acres of waterfront property in St. Petersburg, Fla. Since opening in 1973 the community has offered independent living, assisted living and memory care to area seniors. Short and long-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation is available at The Springs, an on-site health center operated by Summit Care. Managed by Watermark Retirement Communities, The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay is committed to creating an extraordinary community where people thrive.

About Watermark Retirement Communities, Inc.

In 2016, the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) ranked Tucson-based Watermark Retirement Communities as the 16th largest senior housing operator in the U.S. Watermark’s commitment to creating extraordinary communities where people thrive dates back nearly 30 years to when it opened its first retirement community in 1987. A privately held company with a reputation of service, success, growth, integrity and financial stability, Watermark Retirement Communities manages 39 retirement communities coast to coast.