A local company aims to brighten the days of Champaign-Urbana area nursing home and senior living community residents – and you can help.
Tara Steinert wants “to provide hope, a spark, a smile and share some love while residents are missing their regular interaction with their loved ones.”
Her company, Sign Gypsies Champaign, specializes in placing customized yard greetings in front of homes and businesses for 24 hours. Typically, signs are celebratory – for birthdays, anniversaries, the birth of a child, retirements and more.
But in the era of COVID-19, the signs are a great way to share positivity — from a distance.
Steinert will put signs for free in front of any nursing home in her coverage area, which encompasses Arcola, Arthur, Atwood, Bondville, Camargo, Champaign, Hindsboro, Ivesdale, Mahomet, Oakland, Pesotum, Sadorus, Savoy, Seymour, Tolono, Tuscola, Urbana, and Villa Grove.
Nursing home staff, residents, or family of residents can make the request. Send a message to Steinert on Facebook or email signgypsieschampaign@gmail.com.
“The feedback I have received from everyone so far has been amazing. While the senior residents have been the target recipients of my nursing home messages, the staff have also shared their joy and appreciation with me,” she said.
Steinert got the idea to lift up hospital workers and nursing homes from other Sign Gypsy affiliates around the country and immediately went to work.
“We sent a note about it to Carle and set up their custom message (Friday),” she said.
Steinert said she will continue to offer the complimentary 24-hour sign placement to each nursing home in her coverage area until they’ve all been installed OR the visitor restriction has been lifted – whichever comes first.
She isn’t worried about inventory but did put in a rush order, so she can cover all the requests.
“Spreading joy is my mission,” Steinert said. “I hope that we can reach ALL seniors in the area.”
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