Encouragement through a card… ETCHA providing words of hope in times of isolation
Published 1:14 am Tuesday, March 31, 2020
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Photo Contributed Girls from ETCHA are busy at work putting their creative flare on cards that will soon be mailed out.
Photo Contributed The special finishing touches are being applied to a card that will soon be in the hands of a grateful recipient.
Photo Contributed A card is ready to be sent out with a special message.
Photo Contributed Just some of the handmade cards crafted by the children at ETCHA.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
In a time unlike most have ever experienced, while many have been able to find a way to occupy themselves during times of isolation there are a group of individuals who often are not able to share time with others due to being shut-in or in nursing homes.
For that reason, the East Tennessee Christian Home and Academy wanted to make sure that those who felted separated or isolated knew that there was someone who was thinking about them by preparing hand-made cards.
“I think that we just wanted to give back to the community,” stated ETCHA Director of Services Melissa Marvel. “We wanted to provide encouragement to those who may be in a nursing home or self-isolated.
“The kids love it as it gives them the opportunity to give back. They actually have received cards of ‘Thank You’ back. We hope to continue with this long after the pandemic is over.”
Even though the project has only been going on now for a couple of weeks, the project has seen about 50 cards go out and are hoping that they will get more names from the community to send cards to.
“We have had a really good response from the community on our Facebook page as more names are coming in daily,” Marvel said. “All of the cards are hand-drawn as we have several artists who are really putting their special touches on the cards.
“We always like to get favorite colors, what flowers they like, and favorite Bible verses to personalize the cards to whom we are sending them.”
Marvel said that the community is more than welcome to contact them via their Facebook page, their website – www.etcha.org, or even call them at 423-542-4423 with names of those who may be in need of receiving a card of comfort and hope.
The project has been a great way for ETCHA to provide something to do for the kids as well because of the preventive measures in place to protect them from possibly contracting the COVID-19 as well.
“We certainly have had restrictions as well,” Marvel stated. “They can’t go off the campus and carry on the activities that we normally do with them.
“It’s a good project for them to do. We have 12 girls who are working on the cards including our staff children.”
The ETCHA motto is “Grow Girls God’s Way” and it’s evident that projects such as this one are truly being birthed and fulfilling that motto.
Marvel had a message to send out to the community as well.
“We are praying for our community and we want people to know that we truly appreciate all the support that they have shown us since we opened here in 1946,” Marvel said.
