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Gayle Cook is a volunteer at Lee Memorial Hospital. She loves being a part of
the Arts in Healthcare Program. She says, “If you do art when you’re sick you do
have a smile on your face and you feel happy and you forget how sick you are.”
Gayle and other say that’s one of the main goals of the Art Cart. The cart is a
colorful art station that makes its way around Lee Memorial Hospital a few days
a week, bringing the joy of creativity into the rooms of many patients. Robert
King is one of those patients who took time out to use the art cart to help him
create a self portrait. He says, “If you spend any time at all in the hospital
you realize that the sad part about the whole thing is the lack of activity.
This is a wonderful activity.” Ruth Sedockin is another Art Cart volunteer at
Lee Memorial Hospital. She loves watching the patients get involved in something
creative. “When you get all involved with one of these projects you forget about
your problems,” Ruth says. From markers and paint to recipe holders and sketch
pads the art cart is stocked full of potential projects that patients can create
and then take home. Gayle says, “I say do you need any magazines are you an
artist? Some people recoil in fear oh no I can’t do anything with art. And then
some people say oh I love it do you have anything I can sketch with. Everybody
enjoys a free pencil.” And whether they consider themselves to be an artist or a
novice many patients are surprised how a little painting or drawing can really
brighten their day. Gayle says, “Any time you can create something you can feel
good about yourself and you say I can do this and you get confidence.” And Ruth
agrees. “This is a chance at something to make them feel themselves and have a
say. It’s an expression of themselves.” The art cart is supplied mostly by
donations. If you’re interested in helping keep the program going, contact the
Arts in Healthcare Program at 239-334-5633. |
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