Flagler County, FL – What does it take to be an amazing kid in Flagler County? Terri Stewart says her 13-year old granddaughter Kayla Hatcher definitely qualifies.
Not only did Kayla pick up a Presidential Award for a recycling club project implemented at her school last year while attending Belle Terre Elementary, the seventh-grader recently decided that seniors in Flagler County were due for a little love with the approaching holiday.
Enlisting the help of her grandmother, Kayla set about hand-making more than 200 Valentine’s Day cards for seniors in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the county.
“She inspires me and I’m supportive of anything she wants to do,” said Stewart.
“I started just helping her do them and pretty soon (we knew) it was going to be huge because she had to make 219 of them,” she recounted thinking of the handwritten cards. “She even put Valentine jokes in them, so it was really adorable.”
The labor of love took about 36 hours, but Kayla says it was worth the work.
“I think just bringing joy to other people brings joy to myself. Honestly it’s a fun experience to do because it just makes you feel happy inside, and seeing other people smile and when family is proud of you, it just makes you feel good.”
The pair set out February 1st to deliver the bundles of pink cards to the facilities, delighting activities directors like Dawn Waller at Sabal Palms, who says the cards will add a little something extra to the festivities planned for February 14th.
“We have a large event planned for Valentine’s Day, an ice cream sundae and banana split event sponsored by Coldwell Banker Realtors, so these will go with that. Valentine’s Day here is going to be a very special day,” said Waller.
With limited accessibility over the past year, Waller said things like the cards from the community are treasured by the elderly.
“Anytime somebody does something for a senior whether it’s during the time of a pandemic or just a regular time, it’s always so appreciated,” she said.
“So many times they’re forgotten or families live far away, so just a little token that’s it’s Valentine’s Day, that sparks all those memories of Valentines for years. It’s so important to stimulate their memory, them, everyday and this is what does it.”
As for what comes next, Kayla is already helping a homeless gentleman who lives nearby, providing him and his canine with food, under the watchful eye of her mom, and plans to create soldier care packages as her next big project.
“We’re going to put all the essentials needed like soaps, hygiene supplies, blankets, little things that they can use,” she said of the soldier care packages.
Kayla credits her grandmother for inspiring her to help others, and hopes others will be inspired as well.
“I do want to make a change in the world,” said Kayla. “During this negative time, by adding just a little bit of positivity it can help change a lot of people and those people can pay it forward to other people.”
Kayla will be featured on Flagler County Broadcasting LLC
stations February 15-28, 2021 as a Coastal Cloud Amazing Kid!
stations February 15-28, 2021 as a Coastal Cloud Amazing Kid!
