It is finally the time of year when families and friends make plans to meet up and celebrate the holidays. With this time of year comes the combination of stress and excitement that comes with any holiday that is celebrated within the month of December. Despite the differences in culture and tradition, there is no denying the fact that many people value the time they have with their loved ones.
For this holiday season, students in DECA have partnered up with an organization called Mail a Smile. This organization is based in Michigan, and its goal is to help the community by reaching out to high schoolers so they can write letters to seniors in care facilities. Mail a Smile was made by Josie Fairbanks when she first started sending letters to seniors in local care facilities. Then, to involve more of the community, she expanded her project so anyone in Michigan could contribute.
Mail a Smile contacts high schools, such as Dakota High School, and offers students the chance to participate. Whenever the holiday season arrives, students will work to fill envelopes with greeting cards and mail them to senior care facilities near them.
On the Mail a Smile website (the link will be provided below), there are instructions on how to participate, guidelines and tips for making the cards, an inspiration gallery, and information about the organization.
For anybody interested in contributing to Mail a Smile’s goal of sending out letters to seniors near you, please visit:
https://mailasmileproject.com/
At Dakota High School, students in DECA loved what Mail a Smile was doing for the community, and they chose to help the cause. During their meeting, they gathered supplies such as: colored paper, coloring supplies, and stickers. The students then spent their time making smile cards, and some of them had time during the meeting to make a second card. The cards were then collected and given to Josie Fairbanks. According to Cody Shene, a member of DECA, all members of DECA contributed to the cause.
In a time when holiday loneliness is high, it is important that anyone who can help does what they can to contribute. An article on valuepenguin.com states that “55% of Americans” experience and struggle with holiday loneliness. This could be caused by an inability to be with loved ones during the holiday season, seasonal depression, grief from a recent loss, and more.
Some other important findings from a survey that was conducted on valuepenguin.com were:
-More women admitted that they felt lonely or sad during the holidays
-Introverts were more likely to experience holiday loneliness compared to extroverts
-LGBTQ+ Americans struggle with their mental health during the holidays more often than Straight Americans due to seasonal depression, grief, and poor relationships with their families in contrast to Straight Americans who reported that their time away from loved ones increased their holiday loneliness
-Gen Z is the loneliest generation during the holidays
With that last fact, Mail a Smile’s goal is still relevant. Whenever Mail a Smile offers high schoolers the chance to contribute to their cause, this gives younger people (Gen Z) a chance to socialize with one another and to feel more included within the community. So, not only does Mail a Smile help Seniors in care facilities feel cared for within the community, but it also helps younger people connect with one another.
Overall, the holidays may be a challenging time for some individuals. And, as community members, people should strive to help others feel included as this year reaches its end.
The link to view more information regarding the survey on valuepenguin.com:
