Hundreds respond to appeal for Easter cards for elderly

Louise Walsh

Hundreds of children from all over the country have answered a Garda appeal to make cards for the elderly in isolation this Easter.

The appeal for an initial 100 cards by Meath gardai was met five fold as little artists took the time to sent greeting cards to surrogate grandparents all over the county.

Navan community garda Stacey Looby began delivering the cards to nursing homes and older people living on their own this weekend after the huge nationwide response.

"I had hoped for 100 cards for 68 residents in a nursing home and another 30 who I shop for and visit while they are in isolation.

"So I put out an appeal and within a week, I had nearly 500 cards from children from Tipperary, Limerick, Offaly - every county in the country almost.

"The cards are handmade and have lovely messages and poems asking the elderly to stay positive and safe during the Covid-19 crisis.

"They are from girls and boys from all ages just wanting to help put a smile on someone who may feel a little lonely this Easter.  It's lovely that they'll know someone is thinking of them."

Stacey even received a card herself from a child thanking her for organising the appeal.

"These cards will be a little lift for the elderly now, especially when family members can't come and visit them.  Sure I was even chuffed myself to receive a card from a child."

Stacey didn't take any chances however when it came to Covid-19 and checked with medical experts to see if the virus remained on paper for long.

"Advice I received is that the virus could remain on paper for up to 24 hours so I stopped taking them a week ago as an extra precaution.

"They were sealed and remained in boxes for a week to make sure any traces of any virus had died and they were safe to distribute.

"I am shopping for the elderly so will distribute those then and the Meals and Wheels in Navan will also give some out with meals over the weekend."

"I'll also drop them into local nursing homes where the elderly can't have any visitors due to the current restrictions."

Navan community gardai have set up an elderly register at the station to put in names of anyone living on their own who people are concerned about and can no longer reach due to the restrictions.

"We make sure to contact them and see if they are ok as they cocoon.

"I've delivered prescriptions and food items but all they want to do is have a chat, even from a distance.  They're just lonely so I thought this may be a nice thing to do and it will connect children with the elderly.