A former Moncton woman has harnessed the power of social media to give her grandmother hope – from hundreds of miles away.
Nicole Legault’s 93 year-old grandmother Betty has been under quarantine in an assisted living home in Philadelphia for almost a month.
Legault says Betty faces challenges with speaking on the phone or using the internet which has left her cut off from the outside world, but she’s still able to appreciate a good letter.
That’s when Legault took to social media with a simple ask.
“I made a post,” she said. “With some pictures of her, and then asked people to write letters. Honestly, I was a little bit shocked at the response,” she chuckled. “I probably shouldn’t have been because it’s the internet, but people are really willing to send her things.”
The engagement and popularity of the posts exploded, with people reaching out from California, Australia, Germany, and all over the world agreeing to write to Betty.
Legault says she hopes having new pen-pals will give her grandmother some purpose during such a difficult time.
She also notes that it’s important to remember that while we have the privilege of staying connected and updated on the COVID-19 pandemic via the internet and other means, that isn’t the case for a large part of society.
