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Maple Ridge care home worker collects over 600 Christmas cards for seniors

Hopes to continue the initiative in the coming years
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Students from the Harry Hooge Elementary made a bunch of cards and surprised the organizers. (Special to The News)

A Maple Ridge-based care home worker set out to collect cards for seniors in her care home, and ended up getting over 600 cards, much more than she anticipated.

When Dianne Baldini started her Christmas cards for seniors initiative two years back as a personal project, little did she know she would one day have the community participate and collect more cards than she could distribute. This year, she put a call out for cards in November, and quickly saw a great response.

“It’s actually something I saw someone else do a couple of years back and I’ve done it myself ever since then, but nothing to the amazing amount that the community has helped me with this year,” said Baldini, who works at the Maple Ridge Seniors Village.

The care home, which houses roughly 360 seniors, will have Baldini, along with activities director Kim Knudsen, bringing Christmas cheer.

“It was important for me to do this because working in the care home has shown me how many seniors feel forgotten and alone even though the employees are like family to them. No one should feel alone or forgotten, so this is the least I could do to try and make them feel better,” she said.

ALSO READ: Three Lower Mainland women’s ‘Gifts for Seniors’ program make for a Merry Christmas

When Baldini reached out to the community through social media and word of mouth this year, she didn’t expect to receive the overwhelming response that the initiative generated.

“I lost track after a lovely group of ladies, Jenn Stafford and her wonderful team, dropped off well over 350 cards. We then got another surprise of cards from the children at Harry Hooge Elementary, who all made cards to help as well. These numbers don’t include everyone else who took time to make and drop off cards as well,” she said. “It’s safe to say we have well over 600 cards to hand out.”

Each senior will now end up getting more than one card.

“Words can’t express how amazing our community is, and how grateful I am for everyone who brought me cards so I can make sure none of the residents at Maple Ridge Seniors Village feel alone or forgotten this holiday season,” Baldini said, hoping to continue this initiative in the coming years.

ALSO READ: Warm clothes, blankets and PB&J needed for Maple Ridge’s homeless


Have a story tip? Email: priyanka.ketkar@mapleridgenews.com
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Students from the Harry Hooge Elementary made a bunch of cards and surprised the organizers. (Special to The News)
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Jenn Stafford from the Hannah House along with her group of ladies made over 350 cards. (Special to The News)


Priyanka Ketkar

About the Author: Priyanka Ketkar

Priyanka Ketkar has been a journalist since 2011 with extensive experience in community-driven news writing, feature writing, and editing.
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