A Cape man recently took matters into his own hands after he found out how many folks living in assisted living and nursing homes receive very little, or no mail during the holidays.

Tom Dolan said last year around this time they had friends who lost loved ones in assisted living facilities due to COVID-19, or other health problems.

“Most folks get little or no mail at all,” he said, adding that there are more than 900 seniors living in assisted living and nursing homes in Cape Coral. “I started to send cards to them. I would buy bulk cards. People would donate cards to me. I would put them in little brown envelopes with enough for each person at the facility.”

A few people joined the cause and began writing cheerful greetings inside the cards that were then delivered to the facilities. The number of volunteers, for one reason or another, has dropped off and Dolan has not been able to get ahold of them this year to help with his cause.

“I need help to get greeting cards to the folks in the assisted living centers and nursing homes. We have probably close to 30 assisted living facilities in Cape Coral. They range from five permanent residents to 120 permanent residents. Seven that are solely Spanish speaking. I have difficulty getting greetings to them,” he said.

Volunteers are being sought this year to help with writing nice greetings within the holiday cards.

“Do we have church groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, social groups or high school kids that need a community service project?” Dolan asked. “The card is already addressed and in an envelope ready to go to the senior assisted living. I invite people to come by and put a greeting in the card and deliver, or mail it to the assisted living facility. It doesn’t cost them a dime.”

Individuals interested in helping spread the holiday cheer with a nice greeting inside a card are asked to contact Dolan at Tom_Dolan38@hotmail.com.

“They can select the facility they would like to partner with,” he said.

Dolan has been told he is making an impact, as many residents at the facilities are keeping a collage of the cards given to them.