Ft. Craig kids bring flowers and encouragement to Blount Memorial patients

Photo courtesy of Blount Memorial Hospital

Alice Phillips of Maryville accepts a home-made card and flower arrangement from third graders at Fort Craig Elementary School.

Photo courtesy of Blount Memorial Hospital

Sixty third graders from Fort Craig brought plants and cards like these to the patients of Blount Memorial Hospital.

Photo courtesy of Blount Memorial Hospital

Fort Craig students Molly Culliton and Blake Hurst present flowers to a patient.

On August 21, third graders from Fort Craig Elementary made the trek from their school down to Blount Memorial Hospital, carrying with them flowers and hand-made cards for the patients there. The service project was a part of the school’s Life Skills training, and this project was completed in conjunction with the “caring” section.

Fort Craig students participate in a variety of community service projects, but they’ve returned to the hospital for the last three years to bring gifts to patients. The four third-grade classes of Mrs. Hurst, Mrs. Owens, Ms. Vanderlip and Mr. Howe made cards to accompany flowers and plants donated by Coulter Florist in Maryville. Karen Dwyer, a teacher’s assistant at the school, was instrumental in organizing the outing.

Most students passed on their gifts to volunteers, who blanketed several floors with the arrangements. Six students were selected to represent their classmates and personally deliver their cards and flowers. “They were tickled – a lot of these folks don’t get flowers,” said Caroline Lamar, the hospital’s public relations and marketing assistant.

Fort Craig is a year-round school operating on the Highly Effective Teaching (HET) model, which uses thematic teaching focused on applied skills and concepts. The school can be reached at 865-983-4371. More information about Blount Memorial Hospital can be found at www.blountmemorial.org.