January Aragon Cares: Stars of Hope

by Kalyn Stockman

As soon as the package arrived in the mail and we opened it up, sorting through the wooden star cutouts and colorful paint, I could tell how impactful our January ‘Aragon Cares’ event would be. 

Last week, team Aragon got together to support Stars of Hope. This incredible foundation works to provide hope and care to members of communities impacted by natural and man-made disasters. 

This blog will provide an overview of the Stars of Hope Foundation, as well as a look into our volunteer efforts for January.

The Stars of Hope Foundation

“Empower people of all ages to transform communities and individuals in need of hope through the power of art and messages of healing.” This powerful mission statement belongs to Stars of Hope, a disaster response and community arts program. The organization was started in 2007, and has since positively impacted the lives of millions of people in communities impacted by a natural disaster. 

Aragon Sends Hope

After sending a monetary donation to the organization, a package was shipped to the Aragon Research headquarters. Inside the package was everything we needed to create colorful stars, painted with messages of hope for disaster victims. We also received a booklet with photos, instructions, and powerful quotes from people that have been impacted by Stars of Hope.

On a Friday afternoon, we gathered together to paint and decorate the wooden star cutouts. Before beginning our activity, a team member read a quote from a Hurricane Sandy survivor, found in the Stars of Hope booklet we had received. This helped us gain a better idea of the impact we could truly have on others by participating in this activity.

After reflecting on what these stars truly mean, our conference room transformed into a colorful and creative art studio. From polka dots, to stripes, to a colorful penguin, our stars each had a unique design, painted carefully. 

How You Can Help

If the Stars of Hope mission speaks to you, it’s easy to get involved! The Stars of Hope activity is perfect for corporate, community, family, and school events. Simply order a Box of Hope, decorate your stars, and ship them to one of the organizations Hope Banks. From there, local volunteers will deliver your stars to disaster victims in communities in need.

Consider gathering with your co-workers to support Stars of Hope for a team building activity, a corporate service day, or even as an activity for a ‘take your child to work’ day. We can tell you from experience–you won’t regret it! 

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Be on the lookout next month for our February Aragon Cares activity. Hint: we will be participating in a virtual race for a good cause!