Photo submitted to Times Observer Each child whispered their Christmas wish to Santa and were gifted a very special present of their very own to unwrap.

LIFE-NWPA, located in Warren, celebrated Christmas with children from their community.

The wide-eyed children and their families were welcomed by Santa’s head elf as each child was handed a magical golden ticket to enter Santa’s Christmas Wonderland. The ear-to-ear smiles and bright faces never faded as the children visited Santa’s workshop where they made magic reindeer food in preparation for Santa’s visit to their homes on Christmas Eve.

The Christmas fun kept going as the children created their very own ornaments with Santa’s elves and wrote letters to the North Pole in hopes of finding their favorite toy under their Christmas tree this year.

The children and seniors of LIFE-NWPA danced the night away together to the hokey pokey and sang “Let it Snow” as a blanket of snowflakes fell all around them.

As the children sat quietly for storytime with Mrs. Claus, the sound of jingle bells was heard in the distance.

Squeals of excitement from jumping children greeted Santa Claus himself.

Each child whispered their Christmas wish to Santa and was gifted a very special present of their very own to unwrap.

LIFE-NWPA Marketing Coordinator, Katie Walker shared, “Everything from our seniors wrapping gifts to helping the children decorate cookies and making ornaments to take home and place on their Christmas tree was so special.” She went on to share, “It was a pleasure watching the young and young at heart enjoy the spirit and beauty of the holiday season through each other’s eyes.”

The LIFE program (Living Independence For the Elderly) is centered on the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community and homes whenever possible.

This type of all-inclusive care has a preventive focus and helps assure that seniors can safely age in their own homes and be an active part of their communities for as long as possible.

LIFE-NWPA currently provides services in the Northwestern Pennsylvania counties of Warren, Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Clarion, Forest, and Venango.