COVID-19: Help Isolated Nursing Home Residents

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, nursing homes aren't allowing visitors and are limiting residents' interaction within the building. This is causing seniors to feel lonely, isolated, anxious, and bored. With self-funding and donations, we are sending devices and care packs containing a puzzle book, a coloring book, colored pencils, and an uplifting handwritten notes to help nursing home residents fight isolation, to cheer them up, and to keep them occupied. You can make a difference by donating to help us donate these devices and care packs to nursing homes!

Overview
Hello! I am Hita Gupta, a 16-year-old junior in high school from Pennsylvania and founder of Brighten A Day (EIN #84-4326777), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which aims to lift the spirits of those who are in need of some cheer. With self-funding and the community’s support, I've sent care packs, devices, cards, and videos to, and arranged video chats with, thousands of nursing homes so far, and raising money to reach more! 

Make a difference and help nursing home residents fight isolation and loneliness by giving devices and a pack containing a puzzle book, a coloring book, an uplifting handwritten note, and a pack of colored pencils!

Background
One of the very first and biggest outbreaks of coronavirus in the United States started in a Washington nursing home. Seniors are more susceptible to the virus and show more severe symptoms. In fact, according to the CDC, 8 out of 10 deaths due to the coronavirus reported in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years old and older.

Nursing homes throughout the nation – including Daylesford Crossing, where I volunteer – are being closed off to visitors because of the coronavirus outbreak. Interaction between nursing home residents is also being limited. Seniors are at a higher risk of contracting the virus and are unable to see family or friends during this uncertain time, causing boredom, anxiety, and loneliness. During this uncertain time which is causing panic for many seniors, it’s our responsibility to let them know that they are not being forgotten.

About The Project
All my projects have been self-funded so far. I initially started out this project with self-funding as well, but I need your support to reach more seniors. Help make a difference and uplift the spirits of a senior by donating!

Your money will go towards devices and care packs containing a puzzle book, a coloring book, an uplifting handwritten note, and a pack of colored pencils for each resident at a nursing home.

Why these items?
1. Puzzle books will help nursing home residents exercise their minds.
2. Coloring books (with colored pencils), as well as puzzle books, will keep seniors from feeling bored while they have limited interaction with others.
3. Uplifting handwritten notes will help cheer up nursing home residents and show them that they are not alone in this difficult time.
4. One donated device can make a big difference, as it can be used by multiple nursing home residents to stay connected and video chat with family. 

We need your support!
Any small amount of money will help us continue to spread hope and joy! Your donation is tax-deductible and goes towards buying devices and care packs for nursing home residents. 100% of it will be used to help out seniors. Currently, we have reached thousands of nursing homes, including Wayne Center, Green Meadows Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Sunrise of Paoli, The Devon Senior Living, Daylesford Crossing​, Highgate at Paoli Pointe, Sunrise of Exton, Exton Senior Living, Arbour Square at West Chester, Aventura at Pembrooke, Bellingham Retirement Community, Barclay Friends, The Hickman Friends, Phoenix Center, Woodbridge Place, Pocopson Home, Brandywine Hall, Broomall Manor, Sunrise of Newtown Square, Dunwoody Village, Surrey Devon, Rosewood Gardens Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Westgate Hills, Beaumont at Bryn Mawr, Brandywine Living at Haverford Estates, Regina Nursing Center, Brandywine Living at Senior Suites, AristaCare at Meadow Springs, Artman Lutheran Home, Bridges at Warwick, and continue to reach more. We've also been sending cheerful videos and digital cards to nursing homes throughout the United States, and in other countries.

We would also greatly appreciate donations of devices.

Together, we can all help the elderly overcome these tough times!

Brighten A Day's EIN number is 84-4326777. Please contact if you would like a receipt for your donation. Thanks!

News Coverage
https://www.inquirer.com/life/hita-gupta-brighten-a-day-foundation-conestoga-high-nursing-homes-20200615.html

https://www.fox29.com/news/chester-county-teen-lifts-spirits-of-seniors-cizents-with-coloring-books-and-puzzles

https://6abc.com/covid19-nursing-home-coronavirus-letter/6117861/

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/main-line-teen-brightening-seniors-spirits-amid-coronavirus/ar-BB12yD31

https://www.dailylocal.com/news/coronavirus/local-teen-assisting-seniors-during-pandemic/article_1dae4996-7e85-11ea-b44c-ebf2e317f4bc.html

https://www.abc10.com/article/syndication/heartthreads/teen-collects-coloring-books-brain-teasers-to-help-seniors-keep-depression-at-bay/103-ef693963-d2b6-40ea-ab97-b3dd7d89d5f6

https://patch.com/pennsylvania/te/conestoga-student-brightening-seniors-spirits-amid-coronavirus

https://news.yahoo.com/main-line-teen-brightening-seniors-161537022.html

https://scoop.upworthy.com/this-girl-is-cheering-up-isolated-nursing-home-residents-by-sending-them-care-packages

https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/pennsylvania-indian-american-teen-brightening-lives-of-seniors-at-nursing-homes-with-gift-packs/article_230ef646-7deb-11ea-bfe1-2b2006c1e030.html

https://pennwatch.org/pa-high-schoolers-nonprofit-cheering-up-seniors-to-fight-isolation-during-pandemic/

https://www.cbs8.com/video/syndication/heartthreads/video-hita-gupta-making-care-packs-seniors-nursing-home/507-a6e50e65-d9a7-4c1c-8b08-5981f4e19348

https://www.fox61.com/video/syndication/heartthreads/teen-makes-care-packs-for-seniors-during-quarantine/507-a6e50e65-d9a7-4c1c-8b08-5981f4e19348

About Brighten A Day
Brighten A Day has reached tens of thousands of kids and seniors in hundreds of hospitals and nursing homes throughout the United States handmade cards on holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. We've also sent school supplies and cards to orphanages in India. We’re dedicated to giving back to the most vulnerable groups in society.