Creative Teens Send 'Virtual Hugs' to Seniors at Newton Green

As students everywhere are stuck at home, missing contact with their classmates and regular school day routines, many are making the most of their newly found free time to connect with their creativity. And sometimes the results can be both heartfelt and heartwarming. That's certainly what happened when Housing Initiative Partnership's (HIP) Deputy Director Stephanie Proestel recruited a group of artsy teens to create a series of cheerful greeting cards to lift the spirits of the 78 seniors residing at Birchwood at Newton Green Apartments in Bladensburg, Md. She placed the colorful cards and messages of hope inside care packages left at their doors and filled them with canned goods, cleaning supplies, word puzzles and other items to help them pass the time.

The beautiful cards, created by members of the freshman class at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, were a special treat for the seniors who were feeling particularly isolated during the days leading up to the Easter and Passover holidays. "They have been very appreciative and called to thank me," noted Proestel whose daughter, Sarah, inspired the effort. "One senior loved her card so much she plans on framing it for her wall."

Sarah Proestel was "virtually" joined by classmates Arielle Gold, Jamie Furman, Daira Hu-Henderson and Clea Bergsman in making special handmade cards for some very special seniors at Newton Green. Missing from the photo are Becca Baker and Sydney Goldman.

"Our HIP team continues to check in on the residents living in the affordable multifamily properties that we manage or provide resident services programs to. As you can imagine, many of our seniors are experiencing the isolation and loneliness of being shut-in away from family and friends," added HIP Executive Director Maryann Dillon. "I hope the kindness shown by these high schoolers inspires you the way it has motivated our staff!"

Based in Prince George's County, Md., Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc. (HIP) partners with HUD as both a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and a housing counseling agency.

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