The Hands on Helping club is making pipe cleaner flowers for Mother’s Day to be donated to Harmony House Hospice.  

Harmony House provides care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses. 

“Our mission is to alleviate pain and symptoms; foster a state of calmness and serenity, and encourage an appreciation of family, friends, and life experiences,” the hospice website states.

Junior Savanna Shields initiated the idea of working with Harmony House.

“I have been volunteering with Harmony Hospice since the summer,” she said.

For example, I went to a facility to paint nails and talk with patients for a few hours. We gave them snacks and painted their nails Christmas colors and they seemed to enjoy the company.” 

However, because the entire club could not go to the hospice to paint nails, they came up with another idea to  help make patients’ lives a little bit more enjoyable for the time they had left.

“We are donating [these homemade flowers] to hospice patients for their rooms and to brighten their days,” Shields said. “They requested this project as the patients love gifts from students and they will choose where their flowers are distributed.” 

 While Harmony House offered to pay for the supplies, club members did not want to take any money out of Harmony’s budget. They felt that money would be better spent on the patients.

Club member Mattie Spaller laid out the club’s ambitious goal for this project.

“Our goal is to make 200 flowers,” Spaller said.

In past years the club has organized other donation drives, which have always been aimed at helping out in the community.

“In the spring of last year when we participated in food drives, we were helping to meet local needs,” Spaller said. 

Even seniors who will not be here next year are making plans for next year’s club.  

“Our hope is that we will [make the flowers] again next year,” senior Kelsey Cohen said. “It’s been an amazing experience while meeting new people and encouraging our peers to bring our community together.”

This has been a recurring theme in the club.  The students enjoy getting to know one another while also helping out in the community. It is a great chance for students to make new friends and learn more about others. 

 “I like being able to work together with my peers and friends to do something that benefits my community,” Spaller said.