Editor’s note: The Times News is compiling a wish list of community needs for the holidays. To be listed here, send details to tneditor@tnonline.com

Now, more than ever, the area nursing and rehab facilities can use an extra dose of holiday spirit. The Socks for Seniors Project is in full swing once again for its 13th year, thanks to an informative article published by the Times News in 2012 which sparked interest in the community.

Mary Ann Dulaney and daughter, Jessica Kutza, coordinators for the project, with the assistance of area businesses/locations are collecting donations of warm socks and other items to distribute to local nursing home/rehab center residents for the holiday season.

In addition to donations of non-skid and regular socks, soft tissues, personal care items (shampoo, lotion, chapstick, deodorant, brushes, combs, aftershave, shower caps, small hand sanitizers), individually wrapped snacks or sugar-free candy, costume jewelry, garden gloves (for wheelchair use), backscratchers, puzzle books and anything to bring cheer are appreciated.

Socks for Seniors is a nationwide service project that supports individual efforts to hold sock drives in local communities.

Founded in Columbus, Ohio, this was to ensure that all seniors, even those without family members, would have a gift to open at the holidays.

New, unwrapped items can be dropped off at the following locations:

Coaldale: Tommy’s Restaurant

Lansford: Cynthia’s Cynful Styles, Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank

Summit Hill: Hiles Brothers

Jim Thorpe: Mauch Chunk 5 & 10

Lehighton: Beacon 443

Tamaqua: Dr. Puddu’s office, M&S Hardware

To take part in the Socks for Seniors program, simply drop off a new, unwrapped item at a local drop-off box. The deadline is Dec. 10.

Anyone with questions or any Nursing Center in need of gifts can contact Dulaney at 610-844-6643 or madula@ptd.net.

“Each year we are overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people. The businesses await the arrival of the boxes and look forward to collecting donations that will be donated in our community nursing/rehab centers. We don’t want anyone in a nursing facility to be without a Christmas gift and holiday spirit,” said Dulaney.

“We are grateful to everyone who continues year after year to share the spirit of Christmas through this project.”