Staying active and involved means doing things for others for the residents of Brighton Gardens of Tuckerman Lane in Bethesda, Maryland.

Thanks to a community service workshop at this Sunrise senior living residence, 15 to 20 volunteers have come together to make blankets for wounded military members and have sent more than 650 holiday cards for deployed troops, The Gazette reports.

Whether they have a relative in the armed forces or not, the task is meaningful for the residents. Barbara Davis, 84, says that she believes that helping servicemembers overseas is the patriotic thing to do.

Shirley Kreig, 86, says her volunteer work is "a task of love."

"I have a grandson who is a Marine, and he had two deployments to Iraq. I like to help these boys," she told the news source. "Look at what they are doing for us."

Encouraging residents to volunteer and participate in community service activities is one way Sunrise helps nurture their mind, body and spirit. Each Sunrise community offers a variety of opportunities to serve others and stay connected to the greater community.

In addition to helping the troops, Brighton Gardens of Tuckerman Lane residents have also created blankets for homeless or sick children, the news source reports.