Media
01.
Teen Vogue
Shelley lives in a nursing home in Brighton, Massachussetts, and has been feeling isolated ever since the pandemic started. “You miss the closeness with people — whether it’s family or friends; you miss the contact,” she says. Last September, Shelley started receiving letters written by high school students volunteering for the Brookline chapter of Letters for Rose (LFR). “When you’re in a nursing home and you receive letters like that, it lifts your spirits,” Shelley says. Lily Lockwood, the 16-year-old head of LFR’s Brookline chapter, says that leading the letter-writing effort has helped reduce her own feelings of isolation during the pandemic, and has helped her grow. “It’s just fun to be able to lead,” she says. “It’s taught me a lot about communicating with people and making sure that everyone is on the same page.” She also feels a sense of purpose as part of a national organization. “You have this community of over 1,000 people just to talk to and lean on,” she says. “Everyone’s individual effort has become more powerful together.”
02.
Channel 12 News
“It is, perhaps, a lost art form: the handwritten letter. Something so common just a generation ago, replaced by text messages and emojis. A group of students at Chandler High School is joining a nationwide movement to revive the art of letter writing. They are using their words to bring comfort to those most isolated by COVID-19"
03.
The Sagamore
“I really enjoy reading all of the letters and every time I go through the batch I start smiling about the kind words people have, and how I know that this letter might be going to someone who’s kind of lonely or having a bad day,” Yee said. “And then I also love seeing the pictures that we get from the homes of the seniors who have received our letters smiling. It’s really rewarding to see that.”
04.
Montclair Local
In a small assisted-living facility in Maryland, a bulletin board displays brightly colored cards and letters from teens to residents. One letter describes a teen’s grandparents in the army, and stories learned in history class: It is addressed to a resident who had served. Another letter describes being in the marching band: It is to a resident who used to play the saxophone. Residents “shared their letters with each other,” said Debby Rosenberg, nurse manager of Hummingbird Manor in Aberdeen, Md.“They could not wait to hear what each one said. It was awesome.” The letters have come from teenagers who participate in a nationwide effort, started by two Montclair High School teens, called “Letters for Rose.”
05.
TAP Into
Annika Aristimuno and Layla Hurwitz, both juniors at Montclair High School, have found a unique way to occupy their time while in quarantine. They started an organization, Letters for Rose, to help combat loneliness of the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The duo collect letters and artwork and deliver them to local nursing homes. Aristimuno said, "We have over 300 leadership volunteers that started collecting letters in over 25 states. Thus far, they have delivered hundreds of letters/artwork in many states."
06.
BaristaNet
“I really enjoy reading all of the letters and every time I go through the batch I start smiling about the kind words people have, and how I know that this letter might be going to someone who’s kind of lonely or having a bad day,” Yee said. “And then I also love seeing the pictures that we get from the homes of the seniors who have received our letters smiling. It’s really rewarding to see that.”