During the first lockdown,MACG residents and staff made and photographed a series of heartfelt messages to exchange with families and friends. Families joined in and emailed their return messages; this saw a wonderful increase in emailed communication & photos shared between residents and families. We were in contact with our local community connections and started to receive beautiful cards,pictures and letters from local kindergarten, school students and local communities.
During Lockdown 2,individual community members contacted our homes offering to write to individual residents. Year 7 student Michaela from Oakleigh Grammar has become a wonderful penpal with two of the Oaklea Hall ladies. Other residents are enjoying hearing from students from Sacred Heart College in Oakleigh and local neighbours who drop notes and letters into their letterbox.
The Bravassimi Italian language school commenced an initial letter exchange with the Italian residents at Northern Gardens; leading to video messages from the students. Parade College students and Council volunteers are also writing tor residents. The most recent swapping of stories and art is a collaboration between students and residents; an initiative from the Moreland Council which will culminate in a mural installation at the Coburg library.
Residents at Casey Aged Care and Casey Manor receive an array of pictures, letters and cards from thelocal children of Kings Kids and Grade 5 students from Hillsmeade Primary school and Narre Warren P12.
At Carrum Downs, residents enjoy letter writing days; returning cards and answering the children’s questions from Langwarrin Early Learning Centre and kindergarten.
Parkdale residents are looking forward to receiving letters from community volunteers via the ‘adopt a healthcare worker’ fb page.
The National Letter box project has engaged community members across Australia in the wonderful art of letter writing to send messages of kindness and hope to those affected by the additional isolation during the times of COVID-19. Our residents at Traralgon Aged Care, Casey Aged Care andBoronia Residential Aged Care are all part of this uplifting project. We also focussed on highlighting our positive messages and thanks on World Gratitude Day
We thank everyone who has assisted with these projects, together we are making a difference in the lives of our residents.
