Pawtucket veteran receives 30,000 Christmas cards and counting

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — A 96-year-old Pawtucket resident has received more than 30,000 Christmas cards in the past year, and they’re still coming in.

It all started with a Facebook post calling on the community and the world to bring a little Christmas cheer to then 95-year-old George Dowling.

“I guess one from China? That was nice, because I was in China,” Navy veteran George Dowling said about his favorite card.

Cards started coming in bunches, from near and far.

George Dowling, a Navy veteran who lives in Pawtucket, has received over 30,000 Christmas cards in the past year. (WLNE)

“It means a lot to me that people reach out send me cards,” Dowling said. “I had a couple phone calls, but they’re always stateside, like Florida or something like that.”

Dowling said he had a health scare recently and his daughter Suzan Brito, who takes care of him, added now the cards mean more than ever.

“We didn’t think he was going to make it to Christmas,” Brito said. “But this Christmas, it was so much easier. Last Christmas was amazing, and I was so busy and all the presents that came, cheese platters, 30 pairs of pajamas and socks, you name it, he had it.”

George Dowling, a Navy veteran who lives in Pawtucket, has received over 30,000 Christmas cards in the past year. (WLNE)

Suzan says they’ve already beaten the single-day world record for cards, and they can’t send in a total yet for the overall record as cards keep coming in.

Now, the only card George is looking for is from President Joe Biden.

Until then, and likely for long after, the Dowling mailbox will stay open for anyone looking to send holiday cheer to everyone’s Grandpa George.

Cards can be made out to the following address:

GEORGE DOWLING
64 HARRIS STREET
PAWTUCKET, RI 02861