Friends to All
About Friends to All
Friends to All is built around a simple, heartwarming idea: visit seniors who might otherwise spend the holidays alone. Each year, volunteers bring small gifts and a photo keepsake to homebound older adults in Carson City, especially those with limited financial resources or little or no family nearby. If you care about the kind of holiday work that feels personal, this is it, one visit at a time.
Friends to All centers its work on one unmistakable tradition, volunteers dressed as Santa and Helpers visiting homebound seniors. The visits began with a single 1999 outing and grew into an annual Carson City program supported by donations, volunteers, and local businesses.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Senior Santa Visits
Annual holiday visits to homebound seniors in Carson City, with volunteers dressed as Santa Claus and Helpers delivering gifts and taking photos with seniors.
About this work
In their own words — what they do, who it reaches, and what your dollars actually fund.
Mission
Friends to All is dedicated to bringing joy, cheer, and friendship to senior citizens in the community, especially during the holiday season, by serving those with limited financial resources who are homebound or in care centers with little or no family nearby.
Who they serve
Senior citizens, especially those who are homebound or in care centers, have limited financial resources, or have little or no family nearby.
Their impact
- Each year it averages 150 to 200 visits in the Carson City area.
- In December 2023, it visited and delivered gifts to nearly 150 seniors in the community.
- In 2025, 12 teams visited about 150 local seniors.
How your donation helps
- Monetary donations to purchase grocery store gift cards for seniors
- Small packaged food items such as candy, cookies, and nuts
- Slipper socks
- Large-print crossword puzzle books
- Handkerchiefs, gloves, hats, scarves, lotions, lip balm, and store, hair salon, or barbershop gift cards
Our story
In 1999, Gwen Pradere joined Carson City Santa Ray Smith on visits to seniors at a local convalescent center. The gifts and keepsake photos clearly landed, because she kept the tradition going each year and eventually built it into Friends to All, a community program that now reaches more seniors in Carson City. What started small has grown into a larger effort with more than 50 volunteers and around 15 teams of Santas and Helpers, carried on in Ray Smith’s memory after his death in September 2014.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Friends to All’s services.
If someone knows a senior who could use a visit with Santa, Friends to All asks that they complete the recommendation form. The organization says it will do its best to add the senior to the Nice List, although it cannot guarantee a visit.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
Touching hearts with a visit!
100% of donations received go towards helping local seniors have a memorable visit.
The joy you spread every year to the seniors you visit is priceless.
Events
Senior Santa Visits
annualAnnual holiday visits to homebound seniors in Carson City, with Santa and Helper teams delivering gifts and taking photos.
Nevada Day Parade float
2024Friends to All had a float in the Nevada Day Parade and shared holiday cheer during the event.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Friends to All has shared.
Current needs
- Monetary donations
- More volunteers for annual Senior Santa Visits
- Small packaged food items
- Slipper socks
- Large-print crossword puzzle books
- Handkerchiefs, gloves, hats, scarves, lotions, lip balm, and gift cards for stores, hair salons, or barbershops
Volunteer opportunities
- Join the annual Senior Santa Visits as a Santa or Helper
- Help deliver gifts to local seniors during the holiday visits
- Complete the volunteer application to be added to the annual visiting teams
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- Gwen Pradere was recognized by the Carson City Chamber of Commerce as one of the top 10 exceptional women in the city's history.
- Jenny Haas was a Bronze Finalist for Volunteer Manager for the Governor's Points of Light Stars of Nevada award in 2023.
In the media
- KTVN Channel 2 News, 'Santa visits for senior citizens in Carson City'
- Nevada Appeal, 'Carson City's elderly not forgotten during the holidays'
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How can someone recommend a senior for a visit?
They can fill out the recommendation form in the How to Help section. Friends to All says it will do its best to add that senior to the visit list.
How do volunteers take part?
Volunteers apply to join the annual Senior Santa visits and are assigned to Santa or Helper teams.
What kinds of donation items are requested?
Requested items include small packaged food items, slipper socks, large-print crossword puzzle books, handkerchiefs, gloves, hats, scarves, lotions, lip balm, and gift cards for stores, hair salons, or barbershops.
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