KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the country continues to battle the spread of coronavirus, many nursing homes are encouraging visitors to stay away to protect the elderly and at-risk populations from the virus.
Saturday Night Live star Heidi Gardner posted on Instagram on Thursday that as a way to help, she would be sending cards to nursing homes across the United States. One her Instagram story, she shared one card addressed to the Bridgewood Health Care Center in her hometown of Kansas City, Missouri.
“Please join me and send a card to a nursing home,” Gardner posted on Instagram. “Senior citizens need our love more than ever right now.”
In her post, she shared an example of a card she wrote to the Shady Rest Care Center in Iowa.
“I realize with the current state of the world, you may not have as many visitors stopping by,” the card read. “So this is me ‘stopping by’ to let you now that you are loved and thought of.”
Gardner encouraged the residents to write back, writing, “We’re all a bit cooped up and lonely.”
On her Instagram story, Gardner shared many others who were taking the idea and writing letters of their own.
Gardner isn’t the only public figure trying to do some good during an uncertain time. Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love said on Instagram that he would donate $100,000 through his foundation to arena staff who won’t be able to work while the NBA suspends its season.
This story was originally published by KSHB in Kansas City.