As you read through the team’s 15-Minute Escape descriptions it’s easy to see that being separated during COVID-19 is one of the hardest parts about the new world we live in. We’re all thinking of new ways to interact with one another, to spread joy, and keep that feeling of being together.
Two young sister’s are mastering just that skillset.
KABC-TV Los Angeles highlighted the Patel sisters in a recent story about how they are finding ways to cheer up the nation and so we felt it was the perfect good news to share with all of you.
While separated from family, the Patel sisters noticed that the isolation was waying most heavily on their grandparents.
"Even though we call them and text them every day it was clear they were still getting a bit lonely," said Shreya Patel.
"One of my grandmother's friends actually wrote her a letter, and it just made her whole day and we were inspired by that. We thought, how can we spread that same positivity, that same love to people in our community?"
This sparked the perfect idea for the Patel sisters and so they got right to work. Shreya Patel and her younger sister, Saffron, devised a plan to spread those positive feelings through a program they call Letters Against Isolation. The program consists of ending mail to senior citizens around the nation in order to brighten up their day.
"Not only do they keep them, but they actually display them. They put them in their apartment, they look at them again, they read them for inspiration. Some of them have sent them along to family or friends," said Michelle Meehan, Life Enrichment Director at a living community in Massachusetts.
The Patel sisters are now coordinating correspondence throughout 11 states, including California. And the Patel sisters say they're just getting started!
"We intend to continue to send them letters and cards after the pandemic is over because senior loneliness is not something that is going to go away," said Saffron Patel, 'Letters Against Isolation' co-founder.
The Patel sisters are always looking for more volunteer writers and contributors to their efforts to speak kindness so if you’d like to participate you can sign up at lettersagainstisolation.com.
Source for all content and full story came from ABC, Inc., KABC-TV Los Angeles.