How Love for the Elderly uplifts seniors with handwritten letters and inspiring video messages from you!
By Kristen Kabal
We've all gotten a taste of what it's like to be socially distanced from everyone and it's not fun. For the senior community in nursing homes and hospice care this time is exceptionally lonely and isolating since they're not permitted visitors.
So 19-year Jacob Cramer is doing something about it.
When Cramer was 10-years-old his grandfather, whom he was extremely close to, died.
"I cried for weeks knowing my grandpa, a role model in my life, would no longer be there to give me his famous criticism about "not shaking hands like a dead fish," to go on weekly strolls through our neighborhood park, or to celebrate with on holidays. Nor could he attend my wedding, meet my future children, or hug me ever again," he wrote on his site.
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But Cramer quickly turned that grief into a way to give back. He jumped into action by volunteering at his local nursing home so he could help impact their lives the way they impacted so many. While volunteering, he saw firsthand how many seniors didn't get visitors. Knowing that others across the nation experienced the same isolation, Cramer started writing letters to the senior community when he was 13. Soon, others began to join his mission and Love for the Elderly was created. The organization aims to inspires others to interact with elders and bridge the age barrier.
"In 2014, only around 1 in ten donors self-reported contributing to organizations that help the elderly. Compare this to half supporting places of worship and a quarter supporting animal protection organizations," Cramer stated on his site.
Anyone is encouraged to handwrite a letter or send a 30 second inspiring video message.
Since Cramer started Love for the Elderly 100,000 cards have been sent out the senior community. The need for them to feel loved and wanted has always been there, but even more so this year due to the pandemic because many are separated from families and their community.
So how does Love for the Elderly work?
Cramer and his team of volunteer Kindness Ambassadors find senior communities to work with. They sort through all the letters received, read every one, bundle them in the quantity a center requests and send it to one person which helps make it so much easier on these senior communities to distribute.
It's that simple. So send your letter to the address below.
Love For The Elderly P. O. Box 24248 Cleveland, OH 44124 USA