Local small business, MelRhea Balloons, along with the help of the surrounding community, is delivering much needed joy to lonely senior citizens through the Adopt-a-Grandparent campaign, a collaborative effort of balloon artists nationwide.
After hearing about the loneliness experienced by senior citizens in COVID-19 isolation, Melissa Vinson Watkins, owner of MelRhea Balloons in Paducah, knew she had to do something. She reached out to several nursing homes and assisted living communities to see if they would be willing to accept Balloon Buddies for their residents and received a resounding YES! Watkins immediately got to work, asking friends, family, community members, and businesses to adopt these residents…and the response was overwhelming.
MelRhea Balloons has already delivered over 260 Buddies to the Calvert City Convalescent Center, Stilley House Assisted Living, Lake Way Nursing & Rehabilitation, and Oakview Nursing & Rehabilitation. Each resident received a smiling balloon arrangement with an encouraging poem, reminding them that they are thought of, cared for, and loved. MelRhea Balloons donates all delivery services and gifts a “Big Buddy” to the staff of each facility to thank them for their commitment and dedication through these difficult times of restriction.
For the month of January, Watkins decided to focus on the adoption of senior residents within Marshall County to honor Bailey Holt (cousin of Watkins) who lost her life three years ago during a school shooting at Marshall County High School.
“Bailey was a caring spirit and gentle soul who showed kindness to everyone she met,” says Watkins. “Through this program, we hope to carry on her legacy of kindness. The Balloon Buddies will have purple ‘shoes’ because that was Bailey’s favorite color.”
This month, Watkins plans to focus on senior centers in McCracken County, where she now lives and operates her home-based business of twenty years.
“As long as there is the need to deliver joy and hope, we will keep working to get these precious seniors adopted,” Watkins says. “So many haven’t seen their families or felt a hug from their loved ones for almost a year. We hope that this small gesture brings smiles to their faces and lets them know that they are not alone.”
For more information about the Adopt-a-Grandparent campaign, or to adopt a local senior, visit https://melrheaballoons.com/adopt
