TARCOG’s Winter Wishes outreach brings holiday cheer to elderly population
MADISON – Fall has just started with Halloween pumpkins and Thanksgiving menus to anticipate. However, one local agency is focused on the Christmas season now to warm the spirits of aging individuals.
The Winter Wishes 2026 program is an outreach initiative by TARCOG or Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments. The goal is to brighten the days when aging or disabled senior citizens can face one of the loneliest winter holidays.
For the annual drive for clients, TARCOG is asking the community to help in making Winter Wishes successful again for the 24th year of the program.
Since the beginning, generous sponsors have helped fill thousands of wishes for TARCOG clients in DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties. TARCOG serves more than 1,000 clients in the region, including a small percentage of veterans.
Currently, TARCOG is seeking sponsors for Winter Wishes. At the same time, case managers are collecting up to three wishes from clients. Sponsors range from interested individuals to churches, social groups, clubs, neighborhoods and other participants.
Most donors provide gifts wrapped in colorful holiday paper bags. Some people provide gift cards or financial donations, which staff uses to complete any unfilled wishes. To participate, all it takes is an email or phone call to TARCOG.
Starting in October, the Campaign Coordinators Kaleka Jones and Sanfunee Edwards will begin sharing those wishes with interested sponsors. “In this campaign, we ask sponsors to fill at least one of the wishes on a person’s list,” TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan said.
“In the past, we’ve had amazing sponsors who have fulfilled every wish and then some. It is always a beautiful and uplifting time of year to see how giving our communities are to those who truly may not receive any other type of gift during the winter holiday season,” Jordan said.
Sponsors begin leaving their donations in November at TARCOG. This year, dropoffs will be collected at the agency’s new and permanent home in the MidCity District at 4976 Corporate Drive NW in Huntsville. Case managers will deliver gifts during client visits throughout December.
Anyone can be a sponsor. Jordan encourages anyone interested in participating in Winter Wishes 2026 to provide their contact information and how many clients they are interested in sponsoring. Call 256-830-0818, email to Medicaid.Waiver@tarcog.us or visit tarcog.us.
