Among the many projects implemented for Change Weekend, “Writing Cards to Senior Citizens” was one that delivered love and encouragement to seniors living in retirement and nursing homes. Specifically, letters were sent to those staying in Timber Ridge Manor and Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. On Friday afternoon of Change Weekend, students and faculty were given packages that included four cheerfully designed cards, a marker, and a list of encouraging Bible verses that could be incorporated into the card. Over the weekend, students filled out the cards to their heart's desire. Some wrote full-on letters while others kept it simple with just Bible verses. The leaders invited students to be supportive and hopeful in their letters and students wrote with the intent to brighten up the mostly uneventful days of the senior citizens.
In addition to cheering up the seniors, the activity proved to be a valuable experience for the students as well. Many students, such as participant Cameron Mayer (junior, speech pathology), found the activity to be enjoyable and even insightful. "Old people have my heart. So when I saw that we would be able to write letters to the elderly I was so excited and wanted to help out. It was such a sweet and fulfilling experience and I’m so glad CFE decided to do this as one of the outreach ministries for Change Weekend,” she explained.
With the friendly, hopeful messages completed, the cards were collected at the CFE office on the Monday after Change Weekend and are planned to be delivered the week after. Hopefully, the efforts of the dedicated students and faculty will bring a smile to the face of many grandmas, grandpas and end up being a form of encouragement to those who need it. In the end, all letters will be delivered following the social distancing guidelines to make sure that the safety of our beloved senior citizens is ensured.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.