Showing love for Valentine’s

All six Buckner senior living community locations across Texas are now accepting letters and cards for Valentine’s Day to bring hope and joy to senior adults and senior living employees. Cards will also be accepted for Buckner employees to show appreciation for the frontline heroes serving senior adults throughout the pandemic.

The six Buckner communities in Texas include Calder Woods in Beaumont, Buckner Villas in Austin, Parkway Place in Houston, Ventana by Buckner in Dallas, Westminster Place in Longview, and Baptist Retirement Community in San Angelo.

Last year, Buckner reached out to Texans, requesting Valentine’s Day cards for senior living residents and employees to bring joy amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

“At this time last year, all of our senior living communities were hosting vaccine clinics for the residents and employees, and we could all see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Charlie Wilson, president of Buckner Retirement Services. “Now, we are vaccinated, boosted and have weathered the delta and omicron storms, but the need for residents to feel some love and support from the outside community is still very real.”

Only paper mail fitting in traditional envelopes will be received; packages containing goods and products will not be accepted for the safety of the residents. Letters can be addressed to residents by using “Inspiring Happiness for Residents c/o” or to employees by using “Inspiring Happiness for Staff c/o” followed by any of the following addresses: Ventana by Buckner, 8301 N Central Expy., Dallas, TX 75225; Buckner Parkway Place, 1321 Park Bayou Dr.; Houston, TX 77077; GreenRidge at Buckner Villas, 11110 Tom Adams Dr., Bldg. A., Austin, TX 78753; Buckner Westminster Place, 2201 Horseshoe Ln., Longview, TX 75605; Baptist Retirement Community, 902 N Main St., San Angelo, TX 76903; and Buckner Calder Woods, 7080 Calder Ave., Beaumont, TX 77706.

All Valentine’s cards and letters will be isolated upon receipt for a 24-hour period.

“Since originally asking for letters to residents back in March 2020 and then Valentine’s Day cards specifically last year, we have received thousands of pieces of mail from across Texas and the country,” Wilson said. “Thank you to everyone who took some time to write a note. It means more than you may ever know.”