Friends & Co hosted a community card-making night at Rail Werks Brewing Depot on Thursday, September 3. Throughout the evening, nearly 60 community members gathered together to create fall-themed cards that are sent to older adults across Minnesota. There was good food, conversation, and card making.
While the handmade cards will help older adults feel more connected, the event also gave attendees a chance to hang out with each other.
And yes, we really do love helping to create opportunities for people to socialize! It’s sort of what we do.
A community comes together
Volunteers from Gay For Good joined dozens of other community members for an evening centered on the goal of reminding older adults that they matter by sending them a handmade seasonal card.
Friends & Co provided free card-making supplies, including cardstock, markers and stickers. Participation was so strong that we nearly ran out of cardstock, a first for one of our card-making events.
What a handmade card can do
For many older adults, receiving a handwritten card is more than a pleasant surprise. It is a reminder that someone is thinking of them and that they are valued members of their community.
That impact happens because people like you choose to show up, volunteer, donate and participate.
Building a connection beyond the cards
The event reflected something we see every day at Friends & Co: social connection benefits everyone involved. While older adults will enjoy receiving the cards, participants also left having met a few new people and strengthened their connection to the community around them. This seemingly “small” piece of socializing actually has been shown to have profound impacts on people’s well-being. (See 2023 Surgeon General Advisory on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.)
Thank you for making it possible
We are grateful to Rail Werks Brewing Depot for partnering with us to create opportunities for connection and belonging.
Every card, conversation and act of support helps build a future where all older adults can experience meaningful social connection.
If you believe older adult should feel connected and reminded they matter, please consider supporting Friends & Co with a donation today.
