Tuesday 19 November 2019 9:39pm
Staff Club Supervisor Jensen Haua (left) and Zoology Professional Practice Fellow Lisa Russell encourage staff and students to get behind the Sending Love initiative and write or create a card for a lonely stranger. Photo: Sharron Bennett.
The University community is getting behind a nation-wide initiative aimed at brightening up the Christmas of those who might feel lonely at this time of year.
Sending Love invites people to write a Christmas card to a stranger – someone who might not receive another card or have another visitor at Christmas-time. The cards are distributed to rest homes, hospitals, via meals on wheels and to Dunedin’s Christmas Day Charitable Lunch.
Zoology Professional Practice Fellow Lisa Russell has brought this initiative to the University – setting up card stations and drop boxes at OUSA and the Staff Club.
“It’s such an easy way to show a little bit of kindness and compassion for others during the festive season. We are all very busy with our work and home lives, but it takes only a few moments to write a note in a card that will bring a little cheer to someone’s life, especially someone who may not get any visitors this year.”
"We are all very busy with our work and home lives, but it takes only a few moments to write a note in a card that will bring a little cheer to someone’s life, especially someone who may not get any visitors this year."
She concedes it can be hard to know where to start when writing a card, but recommends just trying to be yourself.
“Share an anecdote, a favourite thing that you like to do during the festive season, what are you looking forward to, your favourite food, or a Christmas joke - anything to bring a smile. I would often just start with ‘dear friend’ or ‘to someone special’ and sign off with your name or ‘a friend’.”
She says last year in Dunedin they collected and delivered 1,900 cards between Palmerston and Balclutha but would like to this year increase numbers to expand the delivery area to include rest homes through to Alexandra and down to Gore which is an additional 350 cards.
“Last year we were quite small, we had one drop box at the South Dunedin library and a number of local schools participated. Having the University community behind us will give us the numbers to meet our target here locally and also expand out to include additional locations.”
People can bring their own cards, donate spare cards or use one provided.
“Cards can be store bought or handmade and they don’t need an envelope. If you do provide an envelope, please leave it unsealed as all cards need to be checked prior to delivery by the rest-home to make sure they reach the right person.
“It makes a huge difference to the recipient. Sending Love is overwhelmed each year with the feedback from staff in rest homes outlining the really positive impact on their residents. It's a very humbling read.”
Collection sites will close on the 9th December to allow time to sort and deliver cards in the lead up to Christmas.
“But then we’ll always accept cards if you are willing to create or write them!”