Send love through Sweethearts for Seniors
Good Samaritan program ensures heartfelt messages get through in a hard-to-do-so time
An opportunity for loved ones to send special messages to residents of Good Samaritan’s seniors homes for Valentine’s Day sounds like a match made in heaven.
Sweethearts for Seniors is designed to bring joy during a difficult pandemic year. Family members and friends of those seniors can send special heartfelt messages and have them delivered on heart-shaped paper, says Danica O’Neill, director of community engagement and fundraising at the head office for Good Samaritan.
“Valentine’s Day is so sweet for them to get hand written Valentine’s messages,” said O’Neill.
In fact, you don’t even have to personally know the senior to send a message.
A website has been established (link below) where a personal message can be submitted.
A team of volunteers then writes those messages on big heart-shaped paper in shades of pink and red. Volunteers, who have so far written more than 4,000 messages, ensure every resident will receive a heartshaped message.
Some of the special messages arriving online have had volunteers tearful as they read the kind sentiments expressed.
Any message submitted by Feb. 11 will be delivered in time for Valentine’s Day.
There is an opportunity to make a donation at the same time and this money will be used to purchase items that will enhance the lives of seniors in Good Samaritans homes.
Some homes have already earmarked donations for the purchasing of iPads to provide opportunities for seniors to spend time online with loved ones. Money raised locally will stay in Medicine Hat.
Stacey Wagner, RN and care manager at Good Samaritan South Ridge Village in Medicine Hat, says there is a need for what are called ceiling lifts. These make it easier to assist residents in and out of bed or a wheelchair. Another item needed is blanket warmers and an ice machine for the building.
Wagner says decorating for Valentine’s Day has already started and the “Sweethearts” will be delivered to residents before Feb. 14 so they can display them in their rooms.
O’Neill says there is also an opportunity on the website to send messages of thanks to staff in general, or one person in particular for their hard work, particularly during the pandemic.
https://gss.org/sweethearts-for-seniors/