Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Aging today announced that visitors to the State Capitol Main Rotunda during the holiday season can check out hundreds of handmade ornaments hung on the Christmas tree that were created by older adults from across the Commonwealth.
"The Department of Aging is pleased to once again see the tremendous response of ornaments submitted by the senior centers. It can truly put someone into the holiday spirit by seeing the variety of designs handmade by the older adults, knowing the time and love that they invested into creating them," said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. "We received heartfelt notes and messages sent by the centers along with their ornaments expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to create them. The ornaments are unique to each senior center, and I thank all the older adults who contributed ornaments as part of this annual holiday tradition."
Older adults from more than 75 Senior Community Centers in 38 counties across the Commonwealth submitted ornaments in response to an annual invitation from the department. The tree will remain in the rotunda until January 8, 2024.
Here is a list of Senior Community Centers that submitted holiday ornaments:
- Adams County – McSherrystown Senior Center
- Allegheny County – Beechview Senior Center, Brighton Heights Healthy Active Living Community Center, Caring Heights Community Care and Rehab, Hazelwood Healthy Active Living Center, Homewood Healthy Active Living Community Center, Mt. Washington Healthy Active Living Community Center, Macedonia FACE, Sheraden Healthy Active Living Community Center, West End Healthy Active Living Community Center
- Armstrong County – Apollo Senior Center
- Blair County – Central Blair Senior Center, Northern Blair Senior Center, Williamsburg Senior Center
- Bradford County – Warren Center Active Living Center
- Bucks County – Benjamin Wilson Senior Activity Center, Eastern Upper Bucks Senior Center, Middletown Senior Citizens Center
- Butler County – submitted on behalf of the seven Senior Community Centers
- Carbon County – Weatherly Senior Center, Panther Valley Senior Center
- Clarion County – Knox Senior Center, Leeper Senior Center
- Columbia County – Berwick Senior Center, Catawissa Senior Center
- Cumberland County – Big Spring Senior Center, Schaner Adult Center
- Delaware County – Good Neighbor Senior Center, Surrey Center for Healthy Living
- Fayette County – Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. on behalf of four Senior Community Centers, Masontown Senior Center, Smithfield Colonial Senior Citizens
- Franklin County – Chambersburg Senior Activity Center
- Fulton County – Hustontown Senior Center
- Jefferson County – Brockwayville Depot, The Foundry, Heritage House, Punxsutawney Senior Center
- Lackawanna County – Dunmore Senior Center, Taylor Senior Center, Throop Senior Center
- Lancaster County – Columbia Senior Center, Millersville Senior Center, Next Gen Senior Center
- Lawrence County – Elwood City Senior Center, New Castle Senior Center
- Lebanon County – Maple Street Senior Center, Myerstown Senior Community Center
- McKean County – Greater Bradford Senior Activity Center, Smethport Senior Center
- Mifflin/Juniata Area Agency on Aging – submitted on behalf of the Senior Centers
- Monroe County – Loder Senior Center, Area Agency on Aging
- Montgomery County – Montco SAAC Ambler, Montco SAAC Norristown, Salem Adult Citizens Center
- Montour County – Montour Senior Center
- Northampton County – Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, Saucon Valley Community Center
- Perry County – Central Perry Community Senior Center
- Philadelphia County – The Center at Journey's Way, Juniata Park Older Adult Center
- Potter County ؘ– Oswayo Valley Senior Center, Ulysses Senior Center
- Snyder County – Penns Creek Adult Resource Center, Selinsgrove Senior Center
- Sullivan County – Mildred Active Living Center
- Susquehanna County – Blue Ridge Active Living Center
- Tioga County – Knoxville Active Living Center
- Venango County – Cranberry Place
- Washington County – Bentworth Senior Center, Beth Center Senior Center, Canonsburg Senior Center, Washington Senior Citizens Center
- Wayne County – Honesdale Senior Center, Robert J. Drake Senior Community Center
- Westmoreland County – Mt. Pleasant Senior Center, New Alexandra Senior Center, New Florence Senior Center
- York County – South Central Senior Center, Windy Hill on the Campus
Individuals can get a closer look at the ornaments made by the older adults, as well as information about resources and programs for seniors, by visiting the Department of Aging's Facebook page.