Tampere joins national Christmas Card campaign for elderly support

Tampere is one of the municipalities participating once again in the national Christmas Card campaign aimed at the elderly. Other municipalities are also being invited to join the campaign, which begins next week.

Pilvi Nissilä, a planner with the City of Tampere, emphasizes that a Christmas card sent through this campaign could be the only holiday greeting for some elderly individuals, as not everyone has family members who send them cards. Last year, residents of Tampere created around 6,400 Christmas cards, which were distributed to seniors receiving home care and living services. Nationwide, the campaign collected a total of 90,000 Christmas cards.

The campaign is organized by the creative caring community, Siskot ja Simot. People can drop off their cards at collection points from November 4 to December 6, 2024. A list of collection points across the country will be published on the campaign’s website, www.siskotjasimot.fi. The cards will be shared with clients of local home care and living services.

Participants can either make their own cards or use pre-made ones, and they are encouraged to write either short or long holiday greetings. Last year, messages included phrases such as “merry Christmas,” “you are important,” and “hope you find the almond in your Christmas porridge.”