Healing Art for a Hero’s Heart (HA4HH), a unique program that combines art, gratitude and community, will collaborate with MISSION BBQ in Marlton to host something special for military, police, fire and first responders on Friday, Sept. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
HA4HH was initiated in 2019 as a passion project by Amy Bash – a proud military spouse – when her husband, a recently retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, deployed to Kuwait with his unit for almost a year. At the time, Bash was involved with the Voorhees Arts Center and Gallery at the Echelon Mall. The timing was such that she realized that active military members would be missing out on the most important moments of their lives, including holidays, family celebrations and milestones. It was then that she came up with the idea for the community to attend, paint and learn watercolor techniques for how to create non-denominational holiday cards to send to veterans, active-duty and globally deployed military men and women who have ties to local communities. The first gathering for HA4HH was such a success that Bash ended up extending events throughout the year.
HA4HH is a free watercolor painting activity available to ages 8 and up. Participants create greeting cards with “Thank You For Your Service” messages, and they can choose from a template or create their own design. The organization’s mission is to express gratitude and honor veterans, active duty and deployed members of the military who serve and sacrifice for our country.
“It really makes me happy and it gives me great pride and there’s a level of kinship,” Bash said of the program’s success. “(Participants) get it. They understand. They want to make someone else feel appreciated. You would be surprised how many people locally have ties to family members who serve or have served or are deployed. Especially at this time when the world just seems to be in such flux… It’s really nice to see the community come together.”
Along with the HA4HH event on Sept. 11, MISSION BBQ in Marlton will be offering a free sandwich to all local police, fire and first responders. There will also be a midday tribute and observance in the afternoon, right around the restaurant’s National Anthem salute. This is the first time that HA4HH is partnering with MISSION BBQ for the event, and it’s also an opportunity for students to fulfill community service hours. For the last few years, Bash has been taking her 91-year-old father to the restaurant. He loves going there, Bash said, and the employees always treat him with the utmost respect. Through repeat visits, Bash started to get to know a few of the employees and they put her in touch with community ambassadors for MISSION BBQ, who in turn put her in touch with the general manager. That’s how the Sept. 11event came to be.
“I just think it’s a beautiful collaboration, and we’re really looking forward to it,” Bash said. “The people I’m working with at MISSION BBQ in Marlton are so generous and so open and they’re so supportive. It’s just right on point with what they strive to do for their customers and their community. I’m hoping that they (the veterans, active duty and deployed members of the military who will receive the cards) feel honored and respected and appreciated, and that they’ll be touched and pleased by the artwork. Maybe it will give them a smile. Maybe it will remind them of home.”
For updates on future events hosted by HA4HH, visit their social media.
Healing Art for a Hero’s Heart is a unique program that combines art and community. Its mission is to express gratitude and to honor veterans, active duty and deployed members of the military who serve and sacrifice for our country.
Participants will create greeting cards with “Thank You For Your Service” messages at MISSIO BBQ in Marlton on Friday, Sept. 11.
