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  • Sarah Lockhart works on sending out greeting cards at her home in Mt. Vernon. Lockhart, who has been the Card Committee Chairman of the African American Heritage Committee for 12 years, has expanded the card-giving effort to a personal mission. “I do it because I like doing things for people,” Lockhart said. TESA CULLI/REGISTER-NEWS

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February 17, 2010

Area resident raises community spirits through greeting card work

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — For the last 12 years, Sarah Lockhart has been brightening the days for those who have birthdays, are sick, in the nursing home or have something good or bad happening in their lives by sending them a greeting card.

“I enjoy seeing people’s faces and the smiles that show they are happy to hear from someone who cares,” Lockhart said. “Sometimes churches and others get too busy, forget to contact someone and just check up on people. ... With a card, they know someone cares about them.”

Lockhart started sending the cards as the chairman of the Card Committee of the African American Heritage Committee about 12 years ago and has been working through that committee and on her own to send the cards — expressing sympathy, get well, thinking of you, congratulations, retirement and graduation. She has expanded her work with the committee to a personal effort, adding visits to people in the nursing homes, hospital and giving out angels, Teddy bears, scarves with “I Love Jesus” printed on them and other items to raise people’s spirits.

“Someone will call, tell me that someone is in the hospital or in the nursing home,” Lockhart said. “I send out a card. In the last 12 years I’ve sent out over 1,000 cards.”

And the cards garner more cards — thank you cards, that is.

“I’ve gotten maybe 200 or more cards back,” Lockhart said. “Thank you cards for thinking about them.”

Lockhart said she enjoys sending out the cards and has recently thought about stepping down from the committee.

“The people I was on the local committee with became superficial,” Lockhart stated. “They only want titles. God gave us education, and the opportunity to help someone else. And, some of the seniors are happy to see you or hear from you, a phone call.”

Lockhart is considering going out on her own and putting together a committee to continue the card-giving work, naming it the “Lock ‘n’ Hearts Card Committee.

Lockhart said each card she sends is personalized, when possible.

“I enjoy picking the cards and sending the cards,” Lockhart said. “I try to look at the card and match it with their personality. Most of the people in the black community I know, so I know what they like and try to pick something that would be special for them.”

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