HOT SPRINGS — During Catholic Schools Week students at St. John School in Hot Springs observed the theme, “Celebrate Service,” by making greeting cards for hospital patients.
But the project is not limited to one week in January. Principal Elizabeth Shackelford and the staff at St. John School made this a yearlong project in August when they were first contacted by Jeff Erwin, director of nutritional services at St. Joseph Mercy Health Center. Each week the students create 75 to 100 cards, sometimes with seasonal themes, and they are delivered to the hospital.
Erwin instituted the program, known as Help With Healing, to give the community outside the walls of the hospital an opportunity to participate in emotional care of the patients.
“The mission of St. Joseph is one of healing and caring in both the spiritual and physical sense,” Erwin wrote in a letter introducing the program. “Our hope is that this next generation of caregivers will grow in their understanding of the importance of their contribution to the healing ministry of St. Joseph’s.”
All public and private schools and church Sunday school classes were contacted by letter asking them to participate. Today about 13 schools from Garland, Hot Spring and Montgomery counties regularly send handmade cards. Erwin told Arkansas Catholic he was gratified and a little surprised that many of the children in the public schools speak of “praying for you” and “God Bless You” in the cards that are their own creations.
“Although the hospital will supply white paper, the kids can use anything to make the cards,” Erwin said. “Most of the time children draw their own pictures and write their own messages. We simply ask that the card be a ’get-well soon’ card and that the child sign only their first name.”
About 100 cards are passed out by hand through the various units in the hospital each day.
“Many of the patients want to contact the creator of the card to thank them personally, but that is not allowed. Many of the cards go home with the patients. We’re told they hang on a lot of refrigerators at home,” Erwin added.
“We felt like it was something our children could do to brighten someone else’s day,” said Marianne Layne, director of advancement at St. John School. “At St. John’s, we talk a lot about service. Working with St. Joseph’s (Mercy Health Center) was a way to emphasis our ’Mercy connection’ since we have Sisters of Mercy on staff here. The get-well card project is a way for the children to learn about kindness and caring for the sick in our community. Even our youngest can make a card to brighten someone’s day.”
As far as Erwin knows, this program is the first of its kind in the state, but he hopes it spreads. The children represent an “innocent life force that touches patients on a deep spiritual level. This (younger) generation can learn that they can have an impact on the life of another, just by making a card. As an on-going project, the children learn what it means to be sick and to be aware that there are sick people every day at the hospital.”
For more information, contact Erwin at (501) 622-1989.
