2020 has been a tough year for many people, but perhaps none more than those living in senior retirement communities and nursing homes. For their safety, they have been kept from visits, hugs, and personal interactions with their loved ones. But now, thanks to Bob Helgens and his family’s passion project, HappyGram, love is being delivered to senior’s mailboxes, including those at Rotary Senior Living in Eagle Grove.
HappyGram was one of those ideas that developed from a personal experience Bob Helgens had while visiting his own father in a retirement community five years ago.
“I was watching seniors come to their mailboxes with anticipation, and inevitably, watching them have either no mail in their mailbox or junk mail that they recycled at the end of the hall,” Helgens recalled.
That’s when the thought came to him, there has to be some way to make it easier for seniors in these communities to receive more meaningful mail from their loved ones. Over the course of the next couple of days, as Helgens sat watching the mailboxes as he had coffee with his dad, he took note of the administration office that was right next to them. He thought, “They must have a computer in there and a printer…and kids like technology, I’m sure there’s a way we could match those things up.”
And so came the idea of HappyGram. It's a website, HappyGram.org, where you can go online and type a personal message to your loved one, and even include a photo, and the Helgens family will create a nice card for you, email it to your loved one’s community/nursing home, and the facility will print it out and put it in the senior’s mailbox. The best part – it's all FREE to the families.
"My dad always talked about getting ideas that you know when they come to you, it's not your idea because you're not that smart…so you give thanks right away…and if it helps others…it’s a gift from God. This was one of those ideas," said Helgens.
They kicked off the HappyGram.org website for Helgens' dad's 98th birthday. He got over 30 HappyGrams. "That was pretty special," said Helgens.
They did it next for his father-in-law – and it has grown by leaps and bounds from there. On Sunday, Dec. 6 they sent out over 600 HappyGrams to 260 communities/nursing homes in 39 states. Twenty-five HappyGrams were delivered to Rotary Senior Living residents one day a few weeks ago.
"They were so excited," said Rotary Senior Living Administrator Tara Behrendsen. "Everyone likes getting fun mail. They need something to look forward to."
"This is really a family passion of ours," explained Helgens of their desire to bring mail, and smiles, to the senior citizen communities around the nation.
Their daughter, Kylie Alger, "has kept the campfire burning," as her father put it. Their son, JP, who lives in Chicago, has "put the gas" on the project, and their third son, Paul also plays a big role as the one who can really "melt people's hearts." Helgen's wife, Mary Beth is also integral to HappyGram’s success. Between the five of them, they spend two to four hours each night working on designing and delivering HappyGrams…but don't be fooled, it's not work to them. It brings them as much joy as it does the residents receiving the cards in their mailboxes.
"We made a conscious decision when the (COVID) pandemic started to go 'all in' on this project," said Helgens. "It is an unbelievable feeling to see how these notes are coming across because there is so much isolation and loneliness and you can't reach out to people in person…but HappyGram is one way you can."
Since April, they have sent out more than 10,000 HappyGrams.
"Who doesn't like to get a note in their mailbox?" said Helgens. "This is one way our seniors can put some love on their fridge, nightstand, or coffee table."
HappyGram continues to grow by word-of-mouth. Retirement communities and nursing homes are calling daily to ask if they can be added to the list, agreeing to print out the formatted cards and deliver them to the residents' mailboxes. Rotary Senior Living in Eagle Grove is one of their newest facilities to join – and they are going one step further. Administrator Behrenedsen has said they will print them for ANY senior in their community. They will be delivered by Bev Wilde who actually knows Bob Helgens through the close friendship of her brothers, Bill and Stu.
The possibilities don't stop there, either. Helgens said that community/nursing home residents can even go online and send cards to other seniors they know…even if they are living in the same facility. Or why not send them a Christmas card through HappyGram?! All submissions completed by 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday will be delivered the next day. Those completed after 5 p.m. on Fridays will be delivered the following Monday. And remember – IT'S FREE to send HappyGrams!
Helgens said they average about 250 HappyGrams a day. He's excited about the school initiative developed by daughter Kylie as part of an elementary curriculum, setting up a type of virtual HappyGram pen pal relationship with students and seniors. He believes more teachers will sign up their classrooms with HappyGram next year.
"The residents are lonely and missing their families. This is a great way to remind family members they are loved and cared for," said Behrendsen.
The Helgens family has big plans for HappyGram in 2021. They will be reaching out to communities to work on technology upgrades. They also plan on obtaining a nonprofit status so that if people want to contribute to the upgrade, it is tax deductible for them. Businesses will also have a chance to be a part of their website to help make connecting services to seniors easier for loved ones.
The family is excited to see what is next for HappyGram. "There's something about connecting generations…and helping to make someone's day," said Helgens.
Now is the perfect time for you to help make someone's day…by sending them a HappyGram. Log on and check it out for yourself. If you have a loved one in a retirement community/nursing home that does not currently participate, Helgens encourages you to reach out and join in on delivering happiness. You can find them at HappyGram.org.
