Current:Home > Markets93-year-old vet missed Christmas cards. Now he's got more than 600, from strangers nationwide. -Prime Capital Blueprint
93-year-old vet missed Christmas cards. Now he's got more than 600, from strangers nationwide.
View
Date:2025-04-15 09:02:54
Larry Pratt has a pretty big mailbox at his central Michigan home, but even that isn’t enough to contain the Christmas cards he has received this holiday season.
The 93-year-old told loved ones last year that he missed getting Christmas cards. His granddaughter posted about it in a Facebook group and from there, the cards started rolling in.
For Christmas 2023, the family decided to continue the tradition and shared his information in another group, asking social media users to send him something nice to spread Christmas cheer.
“I have a big mailbox and in two days it was stuffed, full,” Pratt told USA TODAY Tuesday afternoon.
Neighbor Jared Nickel, 48, also made posts in multiple Facebook groups, starting on Dec. 6.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Pratt has received 636 cards from states all over the U.S., as well as Canada and even Australia. He tapes the cards to the walls and cupboards of his home, which is quickly filling up.
“Where am I gonna stick the rest of them?” he asked Tuesday.
Christmas is a difficult time for widowed grandfather
Pratt lost his wife Norma in 2012, just before Christmas, so December is hard for him, his granddaughter said. His late wife had heart problems and cancer, he said. Now, he lives alone.
He remembers getting Christmas cards often over the years. Suddenly, there weren't any.
“People just quit sending cards,” said the 93-year-old U.S. Navy veteran.
Now that he has more cards coming in the mail, he makes sure he reads them all. He didn’t expect to get so many cards and now he has found himself experiencing quite the dilemma.
“I have a small house and only one bedroom,” he said. “There's only so many walls.”
His neighbor is helping him keep track of the number he gets. They have lived close to each other for three years.
“Larry walks anywhere from one mile to two miles a day,” Nickel recalled. “As he was walking, he stopped in and visited and we talked. From there, my girlfriend has walked with him on many of his walks. We'll come down, one or the other, and just talk and hang out and help him with anything he may need.”
Nickel decided to help continue the Christmas card tradition Pratt’s granddaughter started after getting to know him a bit. Pratt mentioned the Christmas cards and Nickel decided to do his part to help, sharing his information in more groups.
People have sent gifts such as Christmas ornaments, teddy bears, letters and kind notes, Nickel said.
“We're now at 636 cards and there's only four duplicates,” Nickel said. “That means that there's 632 cards that are not alike. You can just tell that people wanted to send these cards and it makes them feel good.”
veryGood! (97441)
Related
- Taylor Swift Eras Archive site launches on singer's 35th birthday. What is it?
- See How Tom Sandoval Reacted to Tom Schwartz's Previous Joke About Cast Throuple
- Here’s Why Kourtney Kardashian Is Clapping Back on Pregnancy Speculation
- Too Faced Cosmetics 2 for the Price of 1 Deal: Better Than Sex Mascara and Damn Girl Mascara
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- UBS to purchase Credit Suisse amid fallout from U.S. bank collapses
- Banking fears spread to German giant Deusche Bank
- Heather Rae El Moussa Teases Her Future on Selling Sunset
- Small twin
- American tourist disappears while visiting ancient Mayan city
Ranking
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Emma Heming Willis Shares Heartwarming Throwback Video of Her Biggest Fan Bruce Willis
- Hoda Kotb Reflects on Daughter Hope's Really Scary Health Journey After ICU Stay
- North Korea, irate over U.S.-South Korea war games, claims to test sea drone capable of unleashing radioactive tsunami
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- The Voice Preview: See Blake Shelton Hit His Buzzer for the Last Time on Season 23
- Why Vanderpump Rules Stars Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix's Break Up Has Everyone Talking
- Several more attacks against U.S. bases in Syria after alleged Iranian drone kills American contractor, drawing airstrikes
Recommendation
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
How Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Lauren Burnham Defied the Odds to Become a Bachelor Nation Success Story
Hayden Panettiere Shares Why She's Looking Forward to Discussing Her Struggles With Daughter Kaya
Uganda anti-LGBTQ bill that would impose death penalty for aggravated homosexuality draws condemnation
Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
Couple work to unearth secrets of lost Mayan civilization
Target Has Cute, Affordable & Supportive Bathing Suits Starting at $15
Chelsea Houska Reveals How Daughter Aubree Found True Confidence On and Off Camera