Christmas cards from strangers bring messages of hope for lonely seniors

Seniors fighting loneliness this holiday season are getting a boost thanks to the kind words of complete strangers.

A program run by the Calgary Seniors' Resource Society has collected more than 1,500 hand-written Christmas cards so far for elderly people who live alone and might otherwise not receive one. 

Some include photos of pets, recipes and jokes along with festive messages and colourful designs to brighten someone's day. 

It's all part of a push to tackle the epidemic of loneliness among older Calgarians. The society says 28 per cent of seniors in the city now live alone. 

"We get that second-hand joy from opening the cards and seeing the magic they've created for our seniors," said Brittany Romansky, a manager with the society. "It's really uplifting for us as well."

Romansky says she remembers a voicemail she received from a client during the program's first year. The caller was emotional and thankful for their card, which Romansky says highlighted the difference a simple piece of mail can make to someone living in isolation.

"She said she didn't have any family or friends or any community and all she received in her mail was bills. So to receive a card from a stranger that she doesn't even know, who took the time to address her as a human being and to say, 'I'm thinking of you,' really was impactful," said Romansky.

She says small acts of kindness can have a huge impact at this time of year.

"It really is massive," she said.

Romansky says the pandemic brought isolation to the forefront, with more people realizing how devastating it can be, especially for the elderly who live alone, either in their own homes or in assisted living.

"To have an individual to care and just to take a moment, it really does mean a lot," she said.

"Especially at Christmas, you remember your trauma and you remember that time when you had family and those connections and it highlights the feeling that you don't have that around," said Romansky.

Volunteers who help receive and prepare the cards for posting say it's a great way to give back and look out for others.

"My mother lived in Calgary in supportive living for five years and she was thrilled every time she got a card from a friend with a little note or a joke," said Dianne Cooper-Ponte. "It always made her day."

"It's hard to spend your whole day alone with no one reaching out to you, and for them to find a note from a random person, it's a way of lightening their mood," said Cooper-Ponte.

She says drawings from children are always popular with recipients. She notes some will keep cards for years because they mean that much to them. 

The program has been running for three years.