Gifts from the Heart installs care package trees
Matthew Hundley / (matthew.hundley@averyjournal.com)
For the 20th year, the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day will be marked by the appearance of a rare variety of tree in three locations in Avery County. These trees, which can be found at Cannon Memorial Hospital as well as the Newland and Linville post offices, are draped with the names of Avery County citizens who may be in need of the personal touch of a care package near Valentine’s Day.
Working together, five Avery County ladies, Linda Hannah, Jayne McNeil, Buffy Clark, Rachel Deal and Jean Ray, work each year to assemble heart trees in an effort to collect care packages to brighten Valentine’s Day for elderly individuals. They call this effort “Gifts from the Heart.”
According to Deal, the initiative began 20 years ago as a program through Sloop Memorial Hospital’s Geriatric Council.
“We started by collecting names from county agencies and doctors,” explained Deal.
To participate in Gifts from the Heart, visit one of the heart trees set up in Cannon Memorial Hospital, Linville Post Office and Newland Post Office, choose a heart from the tree, sign your name and telephone number to the heart and bring the recommended care package back to the tree for pickup by Thursday, Feb. 2. For more information, call McNeil at (828) 737-0718 or Clark at (828) 733-1790.
Working together, five Avery County ladies, Linda Hannah, Jayne McNeil, Buffy Clark, Rachel Deal and Jean Ray, work each year to assemble heart trees in an effort to collect care packages to brighten Valentine’s Day for elderly individuals. They call this effort “Gifts from the Heart.”
According to Deal, the initiative began 20 years ago as a program through Sloop Memorial Hospital’s Geriatric Council.
“We started by collecting names from county agencies and doctors,” explained Deal.
To participate in Gifts from the Heart, visit one of the heart trees set up in Cannon Memorial Hospital, Linville Post Office and Newland Post Office, choose a heart from the tree, sign your name and telephone number to the heart and bring the recommended care package back to the tree for pickup by Thursday, Feb. 2. For more information, call McNeil at (828) 737-0718 or Clark at (828) 733-1790.