By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

After six years at Riderwood, the Love Notes—who make beautiful handmade greeting cards—celebrated a noteworthy milestone. Through hard work and immense talent, these artists-in-residence have crafted and delivered more than 10,000 handmade cards to people at Renaissance Gardens, Riderwood’s assisted-living facility located on campus.

Sharing smiles
“The idea for this project is not unique,” says founder, leader, and artistic  director Margaret Cullins. “My son-in- law had a nephew at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and told me that he couldn’t bear the thought of going [to visit him]. I convinced him to go and went with him. While we were there we saw a woman with a basket of cards making deliveries to the children. Their faces lit up with smiles. When I returned to Riderwood, I visited Renaissance Gardens and thought it would be nice to share some smiles there too.”

From that idea blossomed one of the community’s busiest clubs. Meeting twice a month, Cullins and 18 volunteers design and create one card a month for each resident of Renaissance Gardens.

“That’s typically about 237 each month,” says Cullins. “I am not an artist, but I do much of the design work for the cards. Some are designs that we trace, others are cut from cards of flower catalogs— whatever we find that works for that time of year.”

Dedicated teamwork
Having grown from a group of five volunteers when the club began in 2003, much of the Love Notes’ success results from strong commitment and teamwork. “I enjoy doing what we do because of what it means to the recipients,” says Cullins. “But I also love working with such a creative team of volunteers.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer their time is welcomed into the group with open arms. “We never turn anyone away,” says Cullins. “Th e volunteers really enjoy what they do, and some are really quite good at it.”