Unitil Employees Create Handmade Spring Cards For Nursing Home Residents In 3 States

HAMPTON, NH — Unitil employees in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire recently created and delivered handmade spring greeting cards to residents at nearby senior living facilities as part of a company campaign called “Spring Into Kindness.”

Utility workers spent several weeks writing short messages in hundreds of cards and delivering them with chocolates to nursing home residents across the region.

According to Unitil, the effort followed what it described as a long New England winter with weeks of bitter cold and snow. The stated goal was to bring a little joy to seniors through simple, personal outreach. The company said employees took part in its locations in all three states.

“We thought we were delivering kindness to our local seniors, but in many ways, they gave something back to us, too,” Kristen Anderson, Unitil’s community engagement professional, who organized the campaign and took part in some deliveries, said. “The warmth, gratitude, and connection we experienced during these deliveries truly touched our employees and reminded us how powerful small acts of kindness can be.”

In Unitil’s Concord, New Hampshire, service territory, Shawnn Vaillant, manager of Electric Operations, joined two line crews that delivered cards to a local nursing home. He said the lineworkers welcomed the chance to meet residents and talk with them during the visit.

“We wanted to provide a couple line trucks with some staff to change up their day-to-day routine and brighten things up with some words of encouragement for some of these residents,” Vaillant said.

The company also pointed to the value of small social interactions for older adults, noting that loneliness and isolation can affect seniors. Unitil said efforts such as giving a handmade card, visiting, and spending time in conversation can make a meaningful difference.

“This campaign reminded all of us about the importance of taking some time to share those little moments because we know they can have a big impact. We hope the recipients of these cards felt remembered and supported by their community,” Unitil External Affairs Manager Amanda Vicinanzo said.

Unitil is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. According to the company, its operating utilities serve about 110,100 electric customers and 105,000 natural gas customers.