A CARE home in Ireland has been flooded with post after staff put out a request for messages and kind words to help “lift spirits” among residents during the coronavirus outbreak.
Under the current COVID-19 restrictions, residents at St Luke’s Home in Mahon, Cork, have not been allowed to receive visits from friends or family.
In a bid to combat feelings of isolation and depression among those living at the home, staff posted a message on social media asking for the public to send in letters, poems, drawings and cards saying “hello” at this difficult time.
They wrote on Facebook: “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 response has proven overwhelming.
From all corners of the world, residents have received everything from drawings and poems through to heartfelt letters and even a few chocolate bars.
It’s a response that has touched the hearts of residents and staff alike.
Returning to Facebook, staff at St Luke’s thanked everyone for their kind letters and messages.
Sharing a picture of residents rifling through the mail, they said: “Thank you so much for all these beautiful letters and pictures! We are absolutely thrilled!”
There’s been so much post, in fact, the home has even had to form a “post committee” made up of six residents who have been busy sorting through all of the mail.
Speaking to RTE, activity manager Lisa Howard said: "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."
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