Barbara Quarantino with Senior Village birthday cards and Susan Mason with card packets (photo by Marlene D’Ambrosio)
Marlene D’Ambrosio
In this day of texts, tweets, and emails, sending a greeting card may seem a bit passé, but let’s be honest—who doesn’t like receiving something other than a bill in their mailbox? That’s why the members of the SaddleBrooke Paper Crafters Club (SBPC) make cards and donate them to Senior Village.
During every SBPC meeting, our members come in with their lovingly constructed, handmade birthday cards and deliver them to Barbara Quarantino, our Senior Village birthday card liaison. Barbara collects approximately 100 to 120 birthday cards each month, sorts the cards by gender, attaches an envelope, adds an appropriate sentiment if necessary, and checks the embellishments. She then adds a SaddleBrooke Paper Crafters label to the back of each card and arranges for a Senior Village volunteer to pick them up and mail them to Senior Village members. Last year SBPC members donated more than 1,200 cards for birthday distribution.
Susan Mason is our Senior Village Basket Event coordinator. She collects card packages, which include five all-occasion cards, envelopes, and stamps, which are made and donated by SBPC members for inclusion in the baskets. As liaison for this project, Susan follows many of the same steps that are used for the monthly birthday card project. She also makes sure that the card packages are beautifully wrapped before donating them.
Additionally this year, Carol Thompson collected member cards for two card baskets, which were auctioned by Senior Village for their annual fundraiser.
In this digital age of communication, SaddleBrooke Paper Crafters still believe that making and selecting a card for someone is special. Taking the time, incurring the expense, and mailing a card is a profound way of showing that you care. We hope that these club endeavors are bringing smiles to our fellow SaddleBrooke residents who are Senior Village members.