Welcome to the Rainbow Hug Project!
The Rainbow Hug Project is a way to build connections between us. The goal is to use your creativity to send virtual hugs, greetings, encouragement, and love to people in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities.
What is the Rainbow Hug Project?
The Rainbow Hug Project connects kids (also teens and adults) at home with people in nursing homes, hospitals, and other facilities. Each group forms one end of the Rainbow, and through artwork, letters, messages, and other communications, we help these groups be in touch and form a Rainbow of connection and caring. Every contribution sends a virtual hug!
People staying in hospitals and short- and long-term care facilities may be feeling particularly isolated from family and friends during this time. They cannot have visitors, in many cases they cannot eat together or socialize with each other, and they may have limited physical contact with other people. Many are elderly, many are ill, and many may wonder if they are remembered by the outside world.
Pick one or more of the locations listed below, and share your messages and creativity. You know how much love can be expressed with a hug and how good it feels to get one. Share that feeling with someone and make their day! Send multiple hugs!
What can you send to show you care?:
- Artwork (drawings, cartoons, colored pages of coloring books, collages, craft projects) [Please, nothing with glitter! 🙂 ]
- Photos (please write something on the back to let them know what it is, who you are, where it was taken, or just a cheerful note to say hello)
- Letters and signs with messages of encouragement (For example, “We’re thinking of you!” “We’re staying home so you can stay well!” “Sending you love!” “Sending you a hug!” Whatever you like!)
- For those places seeking video messages: short videos (less than 1 minute) with messages, music/song, skits, playing with other kids or animals, cute babies, jokes, etc. (Please speak loudly and clearly, since some recipients may have trouble with their hearing.)
- Anything you think will brighten someone’s day and let them know you care!
* Please do not lick envelopes or stamps — use water, glue sticks or tape! *
Every piece of mail that you send will be handled by each facility in accordance with its strict safety policies
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List of locations where you can send a Hug:
Morningstar Residential Care
nursing and rehabilitation facility
“Morningstar Residential Care Center is a family owned and operated skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Oswego, New York. Our mission is to provide people in our community with healthcare, customer service and support to overcome or adapt to their physical and cognitive limitations so as to achieve their individual best quality of life. [. . . ] The center offers long-term care; full rehabilitation services including: physical, occupational and speech therapy; post-surgical orthopedic care; respiratory care; and additional sub-acute care services.” — morningstarcares.com
— What to send? Artwork, photos, letters, signs
Send your artwork and/or photos along with your messages to The Rainbow Hug Project, Morningstar Residential Care Center, 17 Sunrise Terrace, Oswego, NY 13126
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Nexion Health
nursing, rehabilitation, assisted living, long-term care, and memory care facilities
“Nexion affiliates operate 39 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas and 1 assisted living facility in Louisiana. [ . . . ] Each of our affiliate skilled nursing and assisted living campuses offers a home-like setting influenced by their own unique regional cultures. ” — nexion-health.com
— What to send? Short videos (1 minute or less) with messages of love, caring, and encouragement; short videos of little skits/playing in the yard/singing/playing an instrument; videos or photos of animals, babies; photos of artwork; whatever you want to share! Nexion will be putting together a video compilation and sharing it with all their facilities, as well as sharing it on their website, so your Rainbow Hug will reach many people!
Send your video contributions for Nexion to the RBH via WhatsApp to: 240-505-1707
Email your artwork/letters/signs/photos for Nexion to: RainbowHugProject@gmail.com
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Artis Senior Living of Brick, NJ
assisted living (approximately 10 residents)
“We help people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia enjoy rich and fulfilling lives….a specialized Memory Care community.” — artisseniorliving.com
— What to send? Artwork, photos, letters, signs
Send to The Rainbow Hug Project, Artis Senior Living of Brick, 466 Jack Martin Blvd., Brick, NJ 08724
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Great Falls Assisted Living
assisted living, memory care (approximately 50 residents)
“A memory care community [ . . . ] Our mission is to promote independence and dignity for residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.” — greatfallsassistedliving.com
— What to send? Artwork, photos, letters, signs
Send to The Rainbow Hug Project, Great Falls Assisted Living, 1121 Reston Ave., Herndon, VA 20170
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Lake Shore Assisted Living Residence
assisted living (approximately 100 residents)
“A family-owned and operated facility [ . . . ] Our mission is to support our residents in all areas of their life” — lakeshoreli.com
— What to send? Artwork, photos, letters, signs
Send to The Rainbow Hug Project, Lake Shore Assisted Living, 211 Lake Shore Rd., Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
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Artis Senior Living of Branford
assisted living, memory care
“We pursue a mission of memory care that upholds self-respect, dignity, and individual potential” — artisseniorliving.com
— What to send? Artwork, photos, letters, signs
Send to Carolyn Kochan, Artis Senior Living, 814 East Main St., Branford, CT 06405
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St. Martin’s Home for the Aged
assisted living, nursing home (approximately 70 residents)
“The Little Sisters of the Poor are an international congregation of Roman Catholic women religious founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan. Together with a diverse network of collaborators, we serve the elderly poor in over 30 countries [ . . . ] our mission is to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed” — littlesistersofthepoorbaltimore.org
— What to send? Artwork, photos, letters, signs
Send to The Rainbow Hug Project, St. Martin’s Home, 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228
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More locations coming soon!
Have questions or want to get Rainbow-connected?
Email RainbowHugProject@gmail.com
** If you want to have your name added to a list of those who sent Hugs, tell us your first name, your town and your state — use the form on the Contact page or send an email to the Rainbow Hug Project (rainbowhugproject@gmail.com) and let us know! We’ll be adding a page to this site with a list of kids who cared enough to send someone a Hug!
The Rainbow Hug Project 