The Department of Social Welfare, Equality and Family has launched again the campaign ‘Línies amb il-lusió’ with which aims to bring letters to people living in the residences of the elderly in the municipality or elderly people assisted from the Home Care Service.
This campaign, which consists of sending handwritten letters full of good Christmas wishes to our elderly, has once again demonstrated the transforming power of a simple but meaningful gesture.
After the success of the previous edition, this year the initiative has counted with the participation of fifteen associations of the municipality have actively collaborated, in addition to individuals who, without belonging to any group, have joined with enthusiasm to write letters. A total of 200 letters were collected.
To carry out the initiative, the Department has contacted several local associations or entities such as Centre Cívic de la Tercera Edat, Asociación Alicante contra el Cáncer, Mujeres por la Igualdad Calpe, Asociación Fibromialgia Calpe, Cruz Roja, Asociación de Amas de Casa, Escola de Formació de Persones Adultes, ADICALPE, COLISEE, DOMUSVI, De Amicitia, Amistades Belgas de Levante, Asociación del Amigos del Arte Calpe, Cáritas Calpe, Les Amities francofones-Marina Alta and Agrupación Filatélica y Numismática.
The idea is that, through these associations, the interested parties write personalised letters with the aim of sending a few lines of encouragement and congratulations for the Christmas holidays. The letters are also addressed to foreign residents, which is why foreign-language associations have been contacted. No logos will appear in the letters; this is an action of solidarity and citizen participation in which the City Council will be a mere facilitator.
A highlight of this year's edition has been the participation of the third cycle students of the Azorín School. The children decided to join the project in a special way: they made 50 cards with Christmas motifs that will accompany some of the letters that will be delivered. The Municipal Corporation has also contributed, delivering 30 handwritten letters. All this has been possible thanks to the coordinated work of the staff of the Social Welfare department, the directors of the homes for the elderly have also played a key role in facilitating the letters to reach their recipients.
The councillor for Social Welfare, Itziar Doval, pointed out that ‘this is an initiative at almost no cost that can make many people happy, we are targeting particularly vulnerable groups who live these dates in solitude and for whom receiving a few lines is a real thrill. I would like to thank all the people and organisations that have made this initiative possible. From the local associations to the children who contributed their creativity, to all the people who generously collaborated to fill these dates with illusion’.
As part of the campaign, next week some users of the senior residences will be able to enjoy a special ride on the train to admire the Christmas illumination of Calpe.