– Christmas cards sent by post have a long tradition and, especially for many elderly people, they still have a strong meaning. However, not all elderly people have loved ones to send them a Christmas card anymore, says Cultural wellbeing officer Pilvi Nissilä from the City of Tampere.
– A Christmas card received through the Christmas Mail for the Elderly campaign could be someone's only Christmas greeting. A Christmas card can bring a lot of joy and warmth, reminding an elderly person that they have been noticed and remembered by someone this Christmas, adds Nissilä.
In last year's campaign, around 6,400 Christmas cards were made by Tampere residents and distributed to elderly people in home care and housing services.
In the nationwide Christmas Mail for the Elderly campaign (Joulupostia ikäihmisille -kampanja), individuals, hobby groups, volunteers, kindergartens, school classes, student groups, associations, workplace staff and others can make Christmas cards for older people. The campaign is organised by Siskot ja Simot ry, a creative community of carers.
Cards can be brought during the campaign from 4.11.–6.12.2024 to collection points located all over the Tampere city. A list of collection points will be published on the campaign website www.siskotjasimot.fi. After the collection period, the cards will be distributed in Tampere to clients of home care and housing services.
You can make your own Christmas card or use ready-made cards with a shorter or longer Christmas greeting. The simplest greeting is "Merry Christmas!" or "Hyvää joulua!", but you can write a personal message or even a poem on the card. Last year, in addition to the Christmas greeting, the cards also said things like "you are important" and "I hope you find an almond in your Christmas porridge". You can sign the cards with your first name and the name of the campaign organiser "Siskot ja Simot ry".
Crafting a Christmas card or handwriting a greeting on a card also brings joy to the maker. Making by hand offers the opportunity to pause for a moment and also to see the result of the work of one's hands.
– Some collection points organise Christmas card workshops where you can make Christmas cards with others. You can ask directly at the collection point for more information about possible Christmas card workshops, says Nissilä, while challenging all Tampere residents to join the campaign to bring Christmas cheer to elderly people.
Please check the opening hours of the collection point before you go to take the cards. Christmas cards can also be posted to Koukkuniemi kirjasto (address Ahlgrenin puistokuja 2, 33180 Tampere).
