JT and Tara (Miller) Anderson, Grinnell natives, moved to Marion, Iowa in 2013. However, they have not forgotten their roots.
A couple of weeks ago, Tara got in touch with Kellie McGriff, Associate Director/Administrator of Grinnell’s Mayflower Community. She asked what her family could do to help healthcare residents during this difficult time of quarantine.
The two hatched the idea of the three Anderson kids—Jackson, 15; Grady, 12; and Reese, 10—creating greeting cards and doing a “we care” poster.
Besides the thoughtful cards, the project has resulted in the development of pairs of pen pals. Some of the residents wrote back to the Anderson artists with thanks and thoughts. An exchange was begun. In the return letters, the Anderson youngins’ will send their school pictures.
The photo above displays these activities.
When Tara was asked why the family put so much work (and love) into this project, she responded, “We wanted to shine a light and remind staff and residents that there are people who love them and are praying for them, even if they can’t be physically with them right now. We have family members who work for and live at Mayflower, as well as past teachers and fellow community members, so we knew right where the kids could mail their love.”
JT is the CFO/COO of the Linn-Mar School Community School District in Marion. Tara is the Assistant Executive Director for Iowa Association of School Business Officials
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