x
Breaking News
More () »

Gifts of life, tied up in red bows: Neighborhood fundraiser donates dinner to hospital workers

The neighborhood in Spalding County started raising money through the sale of hand-made red bows, to donate meals to hospital workers.

GRIFFIN, Ga. — We’re all seeing how people everywhere are offering encouragement and thanks to hospital workers— including, now, residents of an entire neighborhood in Spalding County, who are giving from their hearts.

Their gifts are all tied up in “red bows” of hope and support.

As soon as you drive into their neighborhood, in the Sun City subdivision in Griffin, you see the red bows, on practically every mailbox.

“Well I think all of us just feel like we want to do something,” said Marjo Anliker.

It was Anliker who put the word out to her neighbors, to come together to help the hospital workers, and to offer comfort to coronavirus patients - and to the families of those killed by the virus.

RELATED: Atlanta says thank you to COVID-19 frontline workers by lighting landmarks blue

Credit: WXIA

“That little spark became a fire,” she said of her appeal to her neighbors. “We know people who have been directly affected with the virus, or people who have passed away.”

And right away, Denise Mitchell started making red bows.

Mitchell and Anliker asked their neighbors-- would you buy a red bow and display it, for the patients and for the health workers?

“Within two days we were covered up in red bows,” Mitchell said.  

They raised more than $1,200, for their initial purchase of dinners that they personally delivered, with help from the Eagles Landing Chick-fil-A, to their two, nearby hospitals, for the nurses and doctors, and for others at the hospitals who are trying to save lives.

“They were so thankful, and they kept saying that,” Mitchell said. “They were exhausted. But they have something inside of them that keeps going. And you know, they’re never going to give up.”

Now other neighborhoods are putting in orders for red bows.

“Well, we still have donations coming in,” Anliker said, challenging neighborhoods across metro Atlanta to come up with their own fundraisers to give dinners to hospital workers in their communities.

Anliker and Mitchell said they are going to keep making and selling the bows, and will continue donating dinner to hospital workers, for as long as the pandemic lasts.

“As we look at the bows, just remember” the healthcare workers, and the people under their care, Anliker said.

Seeing the bows in the neighborhood is “a daily reminder of what everyone is going through” and the support they need, Mitchell explained.

And it’s a daily reminder of what so many are doing everywhere to help the helpers.

11Alive is focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus.  We want to keep you informed about the latest developments while ensuring that we deliver confirmed, factual information. 

We will track the most important coronavirus elements relating to Georgia on this page. Refresh often for new information. 

CORONAVIRUS LINKS:

Atlanta says thank you to COVID-19 frontline workers by lighting landmarks blue

Coronavirus live updates: Trump says 'US at the top of the hill' of infections; US deaths surpass 16,500

Restaurants get creative, make pivot to groceries to stay afloat

‘It’s not right for me…to sit on the sidelines’: Retired nurse returns to ICU to help fight COVID-19

Tracking COVID-19: Georgia Coronavirus Interactive map

These are the coronavirus hot spots in Georgia

Before You Leave, Check This Out