AMHERST — Known for performances as Elvis Presley and leading a fun life, even when he’s not playing the King of Rock and Roll, Lee Williams will be alone on Christmas, expecting to open presents at his apartment during an online conversation with his adopted sisters.

As he has lost his immediate family in recent years, Williams’ spirits were lifted this week as a large bag, filled with warm clothes, personal care items, puzzle books and jigsaw puzzles and tea, cocoa and candies, was brought directly to his downtown home at Clark House, where a sign on the door reads Elvis Lee’s Man Cave.

“This helps me get through Christmas, now that it’s harder for me,” Williams said.

He reflected on the passing of his loved ones as he was handed the bag, festively decorated with green and red tissue paper, and offered holiday greetings and well wishes by Senior Center volunteer Noelani Schober during Thursday’s visit.

Williams is among 60 senior citizens benefiting from a new Council on Aging sponsored program called Claus for a Cause, which aims to address loneliness and isolation and general need of holiday cheer for senior citizens, some of whom may be homebound.

Senior Center Director Hayley Bolton said the inspiration for the program comes from a similar initiative she previously oversaw at the senior center in Bernardston. “It’s not hard to fall in love with a program like this,” Bolton said.

Since early November, when the Council on Aging began soliciting items for the program, the larger community has dropped off donations at places such as the Bangs Community Center, Town Hall, Jones Library, Munson Library and the fire and police stations. The suggested donations are for the types of items people would want to have with them on a cold winter’s night.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Boltwon said. “We want you to feel good around the holidays.”

Even though Williams has also been adopted by a family from Franklin, who helps him out with presents, and also gets gifts from a niece in New Hampshire, including for his cat Bella, to get support from a place he regularly goes to for activities has special meaning.

“Support like this, it helps a great deal,” Williams said, adding that he will wait until Christmas to find out the exact contents of the bag. “I think this should be done every year at Christmastime.”

Bolton said there was a big outpouring of support to pack and deliver the gift bags, which, like meal deliveries, serves as a wellness check and opportunity to have conversations with elders.

Julia MacFadzen, who handles volunteer opportunities for the senior center, said 26 people from the community have done deliveries, mostly people who have not previously volunteered.

A Hampshire College student, Schober has been a volunteer for a little over a year delivering meals, finding that an awesome experience, reflecting on regular visits to a 94-year-old and that senior citizen’s cats.

Schober signed up to deliver to Williams and two other Clark House residents. “I saw the volunteer opportunity on the website and thought it would be fun to deliver presents,” Schober said.

“It’s truly the spirit of the holiday to make someone feel love,” Bolton said.

Adopt a Child program

The deliveries for senior citizens comes as more than 50 children in the community are getting one large shopping bag filled with presents from the Adopt a Child program at Crocker Farm School.

This week, 51 bags were assembled for the program coordinated by Elizabeth Burns, the preschool administrator for the Amherst Early Education Center.

Working with the district’s Family Center at the Amherst Regional Middle School, students who are homeless or unhoused, as well as others in need, are able to make requests and sign up for gifts, informing donors about their needs for clothing and toys, along with their age, gender and favorite colors. A 6-year-old girl asked for a unicorn toy or stuffie, while a 15-year-old boy suggested hoodies, sweatpants and gift cards to Target or Walmart.

Burns disseminates these wish lists and profiles, with the students then adopted by staff and others in the community.

In November, Burns sent an email that she and students “are so very lucky to live in such a generous and caring community.”

The members of the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, longtime supporters of the program when $25 gift cards were provided to each student, continue to be among those donating to this.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.