Le Figaro Nantes
The Nantes retirement home L'Enchanterie is living a real moment of enchantment.
For the past few days, four residents have been crumbling under the letters.
Christmas letters, food parcels, little attentions... it doesn't stop.
Nearly 15,000 letters have arrived since Pierre Boiteau posted a call for solidarity on his Instagram account on December 12.
In this period of end of year celebrations, he offered Internet users to send them a quick note.
“
I did not expect that at all
”, confides to
Figaro
the 25-year-old young man, as he prepares to join the nursing home to help.
"
It's all my fault a bit!"
“, he quips.
The Nantes tattoo artist has always been sensitive to the problems of loneliness.
It's in his DNA.
His mother, director of the nursing home in question, is certainly not for nothing.
“
I had discussed the project with my mother.
She told me that she would talk about it in the residence.
She did it.
Four people, who have few families, came out
.
Read alsoSeniors: how to meet the challenges of old age
On December 10, he therefore left to meet, with a few friends, Marcelle Boudro, Marie-Micheline Orain, Jean-Claude Caillac and Marie-Annick Cossard.
The first, a former fishmonger in the markets of Talensac, particularly appreciates the sun, good food and the accordion.
The second, a former secretary, is an avid newspaper reader and enjoys songs.
The third, a former rugby player, is a fan of Johnny Hallyday.
The last, formerly a teacher, likes to tinker, especially at Christmas time.
Pierre Boiteau has them pose near a whiteboard on which rests the words "
Would you like to write to me for Christmas?"
», with the postal address of the place.
Before posting them on his Instagram profile, initially accessible only in private.
The success is immediate.
“
I thought I was going to get a hundred likes.
It was the big buzz
”.
His publication exceeds 15,000 "likes" and circulates on Tik Tok, Twitter, Facebook... In the meantime, he has unblocked his profile to make it accessible to all.
The packages do not take long to arrive at the Ehpad, to the delight of the occupants.
“
What they prefer are chocolates!
“, remarked Pierre Boiteau.
Even the rapper Soprano had them send autographed parcels: “
We made them listen.
They don't know but they were happy!
".
Some gifts come from abroad, others from school classes.
Even health workers receive them.
For this resident, receiving all these gifts is “happiness”!
Pierre Boiteau
“
Never have I been fulfilled as I was for this Christmas.
I am blown away.
Behind all this, what I feel is affection
, ”says a resident, in a video posted online by Pierre Boiteau.
The latter helps to manage the influx of mail and does not intend to stop there.
With friends, he thinks of perpetuating the device.
In the meantime, people who still wish to write are invited to turn to associations closer to home.
Because at the L'Enchanterie nursing home, it's overflowing!
