Project Hope Rallies Residents To Share Messages Of Support, Love

Ellicott City MD

12 August, 2021

2:52 PM

Description

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — Many people struggled to cope with all of the shutdowns and lack of human contact during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Some are still picking up the pieces, struggling to find work and pay the bills. In the hopes of showing others kindness and care, the Ellicott City Partnership has designated a special display window in Old Ellicott City where people can write a message of hope on a heartshaped slip of paper and leave it in a box nearby for a volunteer to place on the window. Coined Project Hope, the display is located at 8095 Main Street in Old Ellicott City. Christopher Pineda told Patch the hope wall created Aug. 6 is "filled with messages that inspire both positivity and hope." "We've all been challenged by the pandemic and this project was a good way to not only show that we can move forward, but also that we have something to look forward to. Our community has been challenged by natural and health disasters, and recovery efforts continue to take place in the town. It just makes sense to have an inspiring project for an inspiring town," Pineda said. The display will be left up through Oct. 30. Visitors to the area can submit their heartfelt and heartshaped messages up until that time. Messages also can be submitted online. "We encourage the visitors to visit the wall and take a look and leave us their message. We also know that we have people who are connected to OEC but may be away or may have moved, which is why we encourage them to send us their message via email or social media, and we will write and place the heart for them," Pineda said. Some of the current notes on display read "EC Strong" and others express well-wishes for friends heading off to college. They also ask for support for loved ones facing illness and for "COVID to go away." "It's been very successful within the timeframe of its launch. We're seeing the wall start filling up quickly. I think this could be something that can continue or something along with the nature. We are always looking at opportunities that create engagement and placemaking - it's all about our vision for OEC," he said.