POVA IN THE NEWS: NewsChannel5 - Artists who’ve experienced homelessness create thank you cards for Nashville healthcare workers

Homeless and formerly homeless are saying “thank you” to hospital workers at Vanderbilt Medical Center

By: Hannah McDonald

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Homeless and formerly homeless people are saying thank you to hospital workers at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The group is associated with Poverty and the Arts. The Nashville nonprofit helps the homeless population create art and earn an income.

Fifteen artists created original cards to give to the hospital.

"So many of our artists don't have a whole lot of money in order to give back," said Nicole Minyard, founder of POVA. "So to be able to use their creative talents shows that anyone in our community can show we appreciate and support them."

Artist A.M. Hassan specializes in watercolor paintings. Her cards to health care workers included sunrises.

"I paint mostly from memory," A.M. Hassan said.

A.M. Hassan experienced homelessness when she was living in California.

"We lived in our car for awhile... it was cheaper than living in an apartment in Silicon Valley," she said.

A.M. Hassan jumped at the opportunity to make thank you cards for local health care workers.

"We all appreciate the work that the medical personnel and first responders are doing to take care of us," she said.

The first batch of cards were delivered to the hospital on April 23. The artists are making more.

"I think when you are a health care worker or you're experiencing homelessness you are on the front lines of the virus. You can't just hide in your house. With that, you are surviving and combating this everyday and so to feel appreciated and valued is really exciting," said Minyard.

Learn more about Poverty and the Arts here.