Card-writing frenzy catches on

A mother and son’s simple act of festive kindness has inspired a nationwide effort to deliver Christmas cards to the elderly.

The idea came as Hannah Rodgers, a resident on Auckland’s North Shore, was completing a “100 Days of Kindness” challenge with her 5-year-old son Jayden.

“Last week we decided to write a Christmas card to an elderly person who might be lonely, and I thought it was such a nice idea so I posted it on our community page. It got an overwhelming response.”

For the past week, hundreds of people across the country have been busy crafting and writing cards. There’s thousands being written, Rodgers said, and more every day.

Drop-off boxes have been set up in various communities.

“There’s about 15 drop-off boxes set up in Auckland, and now they’re being set up in Hamilton, Christchurch and Dunedin.”

Rodgers was in tears when she got off the phone with a local rest home on Tuesday, who told her 45 out of 55 residents would love to receive Christmas cards.

“Every rest home I’ve spoken to has been so grateful, and said at least 50 per cent of their residents don’t receive any cards or visitors.”

Yesterday, Jayden came home with 20 cards stuffed in his backpack after his Kauri Park Primary School class dedicated time to craft them.

“He understands the impact it will have on their lives. He woke up this morning and said, ‘Mum we need to write more cards, can we get the cards out?”’

Children have drawn pictures inside cards, of sleighs and Santa.

Jayden encourages “lots of kisses and hugs” at the bottom.

“It’s really easy to be unaware of people in our community that don’t have anyone because you don’t see it. But I think if every single person could write just one card, imagine the impact that could have,” Rodgers said. “It’s just about giving someone a sense of love and saying there is someone thinking about you.”

Local drop-off boxes can be found on the Facebook page, Sending Love — Christmas Cards for those Alone this Christmas, but Rodgers put the call out for people to establish boxes in their communities and contact her via Facebook to have them included.