CITY EMPLOYEES BRING HOPE TO DEVASTATED COMMUNITIES

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During the 2017 hurricane season, devastation rained throughout the Southeast in the form of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, leaving many people without homes and power. With great sadness, lives were changed as their properties were destroyed, reducing many to grieve over the turbulent weather and chaos the season had brought. After weathering the storms locally, the City of Thomasville’s Human Resources Department decided it was time to take action by bringing some levity and light to those hurting. After attending a conference, Interim City Manager Kha McDonald was presented with an opportunity to do just that in the form of the Stars of HOPE Foundation.

Founded in 2007, Stars of HOPE has brought over 80,000 stars to 200 plus communities in twenty-seven different countries across the world. Cases of twenty-five, one-foot wooden stars, along with paint and brushes, are mailed to donors in order to be painted. After being decorated, the stars are then returned to the organization and distributed to areas affected by tragedy. “This is tangible proof that supporting the community’s emotional health and well-being after a crisis is just as important as the physical rebuilding and recovery process,” notes Suzanne Bernier, author of Disaster Heroes and president of SB Crisis Consulting.

City of Thomasville employees gathered at their annual appreciation luncheon last fall to paint new stars with messages of goodwill and cheer for others. “Our employees enjoyed fellowship and camaraderie as we painted the stars,” says McDonald. “It was a good experience for all of us because when we painted the stars, we were still in recovery from two hurricanes that hit our area, too. We were blessed that we experienced no loss of lives and that we were able to support each other during storm duty,” she adds.

A total of seventy-five Stars of HOPE were decorated by members of the administrative staff, public safety, electric, public works, and many others. “We purchased three kits, and they were all done before we knew it. We could have painted even more, but it was a first-time effort and I wanted to take it slow,” McDonald recalled. “Our employees embraced the project, and there was plenty of laughter and goodnatured teasing over painting skills. It was great team fellowship.”

The stars have since found homes in places affected by the storms, from Houston, Port Arthur, and Port Arkansas, Texas, all the way to Orlando, Florida. Communications Coordinator, Keryn Miles of Sugarland, Texas, reached out to the City of Thomasville to express thanks for the time and positivity given to her recovering community. “We just love seeing the stars and knowing that you and your colleagues cared enough to present them,” she said. “They are a good reminder of the brotherly love that is felt across our great country.”

With the reputation of being “a beacon of hope and compassion, for all to see,” Stars of HOPE is truly making a difference in the lives of many. For more information on how you can contribute to their efforts, please visit starsofhopeUSA.org.


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