Suche
Mein Konto
Flood of postcards brings seniors from St. Ingbert on the road!
In St. Ingbert, postcards from all over the world inspire seniors and strengthen the sense of community. A social campaign calls for support.
Flood of postcards brings seniors from St. Ingbert on the road!
At the Caritas St. Barbara care center in St. Ingbert, seniors experience a wave of joy that washes over them from all over the world. The residents sit together with excitement while staff proudly read out postcards from countries such as Germany, France, Holland, Greece, Africa, India, Thailand and even Hawaii. The campaign was launched by Isabell Meyers, an employee of the house, and was originally intended as an appeal to relatives. “St. Barbara is traveling – and you are taking us with you!” was the invitation text, which quickly sparked enthusiasm and solidarity. The aim of the initiative is clear: to give seniors joy and to send them on a mental journey.
Within a few days, the organizers received over 400 handwritten cards containing stories of holiday experiences and well wishes. Particularly noteworthy was the contribution of one woman who contributed 30 cards, while another donated a collection of postcards. The idea is not new; It originally comes from the Caritas Heilig Geist retirement center in Frankenthal, where similar projects were successfully implemented in 2016 and 2022. The call spread quickly on social media and received thousands of reactions.
A nice exchange
The card reading sessions not only provided entertainment but also encouraged residents to share their own holiday memories. For example, 86-year-old Hildegard Hellenthal reported on her trips to France and Crete. Evelyne Bahr, the social services manager, expressed the hope that the campaign would not be a one-off and that other senior centers would also receive mail.
The postcard campaign was more than just a nice way to pass the time; it shows the great need in our society to give joy and banish loneliness. In addition to the holiday motifs described, nostalgic images, such as swimwear models, also caused amusement among the seniors. Some of the writers left their addresses, which opens up the possibility of replying and could promote a nice exchange.
Commitment to social issues
The LAG is calling for a postcard campaign to attract supporters for these important causes. Before the summer holidays, the collected postcards should be handed over to the NRW state government to show how many people are advocating for change. Digital support for this campaign is possible via the LAG website.
The two initiatives highlight the importance of social interactions and engagement - both for seniors, who can be reached through small gestures of joy, and for the social infrastructure, which urgently needs support.