For a child experiencing frequent hospitalizations, a cancer patient who’s received a poor prognosis, or a new resident in a nursing home, the physical and psychological impact of illness can be overwhelming.

Yet even a small act of kindness can have profound and lasting effects on a patient’s well-being, according to Dr. Jason Garbarino, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Nursing. Garbarino has worked with thousands of patients, families, and students in a variety of community and hospital-based settings in his practice as a nurse.

“I see so often in my own nursing practice individuals in need of a simple gesture of kindness and support,” said Garbarino.

In response, Garbarino's taken inspiration from his legendary uncle, “Postcard Jack,” who anonymously wrote and sent nearly 9,000 postcards from places around the world over a thirty-year period. Garbarino's Postcard Pick-me-up project has nursing students delivering notes, hand written by volunteers, to their patients as tangible reminders of others' concern.

“It is the small, simple acts in nursing that can drastically improve the wellbeing of those we care for,” said Garbarino, who hopes his students will feel empowered through their involvement in the effort.

Get Involved

Want to help? Share a fun fact or words of encouragement on a postcard and mail it to the address below. Your act of kindness will be shared with someone receiving care in a hospital or long-term care facility in our community.

Garbarino plans to track the postcards’ origins on a global map in UVM’s Rowell Building.