HELEN - Veterans and their families turned out in large numbers for the City of Helen's "A Day in the Park for Veterans" last week.
The fall cookout, sponsored by the city and held in the Helen Riverside Park pavilion, featured hotdogs, hamburgers and all the trimmings provided by the city, along with desserts from members of the Helen Arts & Heritage Center.
About 120 people were served during the four-hour event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Helen leaders say they plan to hold the cookouts twice a year to honor veterans in the area for their service to the nation.
"It's the least we can do to show how much we appreciate their service," said City Manager Jerry Elkins.
The fall edition of "Art Workshop for Veterans and Spouse" will be held on Tuesdays, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27, and Nov. 3 and 10, from 1-3 p.m. at the Helen Arts & Heritage Center on Chattahoochee Street in Helen.
The workshop is offered at no cost to qualified veterans and their spouse/partner/caregiver.
"Being keenly aware of the needs of our veterans and witnessing firsthand the healing effects gained from exposure to art, we feel fortunate for the opportunity to offer such a worthwhile and beneficial program such as this," said Helen Arts & Heritage Center President Nancy Ackerman. "With that exposure comes hands-on skill-building experiences, along with social interaction with fellow veterans, all which are considered healing elements that improve overall physical and emotional health and wellbeing."
The workshop is offered at no cost to veterans and their spouse/partner/caregiver through the Helen Arts & Heritage Center's partnership with Help Hospitalized Veterans of Winchester, Calif. HHV is a non-profit veterans' service organization that provides art-based craft projects at no cost to veterans and their families.
"Our workshop incorporates some of these type projects within the six-week program along with several other additional artist-instructed activities," Ackerman said.
Program Coordinator and HHV Craft Care Specialist Lisa Cahill and assistant Michael Ash facilitate the six-week workshop at the arts center in Helen, utilizing the talent and skills of various volunteer artists along the way, Ackerman said.
Even though the workshop is free, advance sign-up is required to reserve seating and so that materials can be available.
Register online at helenarts.org or by calling the arts center at (706) 878-3933 and leaving a voicemail if no one is available to answer. Emails also are accepted at [email protected].
