3,500 holiday cards brighten the holidays

Posted on December 21, 2014

Cards bring smiles to those without families at Christmas time. (Flickr)

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – An annual tradition continued this month as cards were made and sent to hospital patients who are stuck at a medical center during the holidays. 

OSF Director of Volunteer services Bobbi Hynes says more than 3,500 cards also went to nursing homes and veterans homes to remind patients that someone cares.

"Just mainly to let them know that they are not forgotten," said Hynes. "And that there are people out their thinking about them, praying for them, and wishing them well during the holidays."

Hynes reminds us that some of the residents at nursing homes and veterans homes no longer have any living relatives.

"I think they really appreciate it," said Hynes.  "We've had comments come back from the veterans home that we've sent them to where the volunteer coordinators sent me a letter saying thank you very much,  You have no idea what this means to the men and women that don't have any family any longer and someone sends them a card and it really brightens their day."

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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