Children use creativity to thank selfless patrollers
Tatum Ridgeway reached out to children in the area to make thank-you cards for the brave patrollers who stood strong to protect the community during the civil unrest.
IT is amazing how some colour and kind words can brighten someone’s day.
Yellowwood Park resident, Tatum Ridgeway knew the value of this all too well when she reached out to children in the area to make thank-you cards for the brave patrollers who stood strong to protect the community during the civil unrest.
The inspiration was ignited after seeing a Facebook post of how people were honouring their community patrollers who kept them safe. “There was a story on there about a little girl who wrote a thank you card to the patrollers and I thought that would be lovely to get the children in our community to do. And so I asked reached out on Facebook and moms came forward and said that their children would love to do it. It was a way of spreading love to the patrollers who have protected us,” said Tatum.
Thirteen-year-old Joslyn Walters was eager to take out her art bag and create beautiful, uplifting cards for the local heroes. “I was very grateful to the patrollers for helping our community stay safe. They stood out there bravely protecting us while we remained in our homes. I would have been too scared to do that. On Monday (July 12) I was especially scared and throughout that week. The cards were my way of thanking our heroes. Thank you for being brave for all of us,” said Joslyn who hopes affected families will recover soon.
The cards were beautifully decorated by the budding young artist, with a special message of appreciation in each one. “We are ever so grateful to the patrollers for braving the elements and standing long hours to safeguard our community,” added her mother, Karin.
Tatum shared that she distributed the cards, made by keen children in the community, to the patrollers who were overjoyed and loved the gesture.
“One of them even said that he would frame his. The initiative was so well received and I just hope that people know we appreciated what they did for the residents of Yellowwood Park. We also hope to paint a mural somewhere in the area in our honour of patrollers,” she said.
