An Irish care home received a huge upsurge in letters after putting out an appeal to members of the public to remember the residents during the corona virus pandemic.
Bosses at St Luke’s Home in Mahon, Cork hoped that letters would lift the spirits of their residents who aren’t allowed to have visitors.
They put a message out on Facebook in the hope that receiving post from members of the public would be a good way to fight depression and feelings of isolation among the residents.
The message said: “At this challenging time, Our residents would love to receive post!!
“If you or your children would like to send us a letter, poem or drawing our residents would be delighted to see them!
“This would benefit our residents and continue to lift their spirits along with providing those of you with small children a little activity to do.”
The people of Cork were up to the challenge and sent in letters, cards, drawings, poems and chocolate bars from people young and old.
Not just from Cork locals either – the letters came in their droves from all over the world.
The residents of St Luke’s were thrilled to receive the post and the staff were delighted for them.
St Luke’s activity manager Lisa Howard told RTÉ: “We had a lot of tears this morning. We have had people send in lovely cards. We’ve received scratch cards. We’ve received chocolate bars.
“We’ve received letters from all over the country from people who are in isolation and who just wanted to write to give reassurance to the residents, to say they understand how they are feeling and that they are in the same boat.”
The care home thanked everyone in a further Facebook message saying: “Thank you so much for all these beautiful letters and pictures! We are absolutely thrilled!”
Take a look at the video below.
Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling
