Searcy, Ark. – Arkansas Hospice, the state’s largest provider of hospice services, as well as area first responders and local clergy, will take a “Parade of Kindness” to nursing home residents in White County this Wednesday.

Arkansas Hospice launched the “Cards of Kindness” program in April in an effort to deliver messages of kindness and companionship to isolated nursing home patients through cards, poems, paintings, drawings and art. Since the launch of the program, hundreds of Arkansans have responded with their works for seniors they have never met.

“We saw an opportunity to help our seniors who are isolated due to COVID-19 feel connected to the outside world,” said Franz Lorenz, Arkansas Hospice Vice President of Business Development. “Our purpose is simple – we just want our seniors to know they are remembered and appreciated.”

You can donate to Arkansas Hospice’s Cards of Kindness campaign. Courtesy: Arkansas Hospice

The Arkansas Hospice “Journey” van will make its way through Searcy and Judsonia on Wednesday, May 27th, delivering Cards of Kindness to the residents of three senior residential facilities; Searcy Healthcare Center, The Crossing at Riverside Health & Rehabilitation, and Oakdale Nursing Facility.

The parade will also include area first responders as well as local clergy who will deliver a word of encouragement and comfort upon the delivery of the cards.

The “Parade of Kindness” will first stop at Searcy Healthcare Center at 1205 Skyline Drive in Searcy at 10 am. It will then travel to The Crossing at Riverside Health & Rehabilitation at 2500 E. Moore Ave. in Searcy at 11:30 am, before wrapping with a stop at Oakdale Nursing Home at 101 Cynthia St. in Judsonia at 1:00 p.m.

For those interested in donating Cards of Kindness to be used in future “Parades of Kindness”, they can be dropped off outside specified Arkansas Hospice locations in special collection bins. As a precaution, the cards and greetings will be held for 48 hours to make sure they are virus-free. Participants can find drop off locations and other details by visiting https://www.arkansashospice.org/cardsofkindness. Cards can also be mailed to:

Cards of Kindness

C/O Arkansas Hospice

14 Parkstone Circle

North Little Rock, AR 72116