Joplin, Mo. – “Oh, how pretty!” Freeman Health System’s President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker said, gingerly stepping around a chalk-drawn message at her feet. The drawing showed an all-white hospital building, a red cross in its center, flanked by two red hearts and a message written in blue: “We Love You.”

Similar inspirational messages of hope and gratitude – created in a rainbow of colored chalk – graced the stretch of sidewalk between Freeman Hospital West and Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute. For over an hour, two dozen Stapleton Elementary school students handcrafted 70-plus drawings and messages to Freeman doctors and nurses who keep Joplin area residents safe and healthy.

“I love doing this because I get to help out people that need our help,” said Stapleton fifth grade student Rhodes McConnell. “It’s just so much fun to hang out with my friends and help people around my community. It’s worth it.”

Chalk drawings included 33 red hearts and five white ambulances drawn by the students, including seven messages with the word “love” in them and five very detailed renderings of Freeman’s iconic logo.

Along with 33 red hearts and five white ambulances, there were seven messages with the word “love” in them and five very detailed renderings of Freeman Health System’s iconic red, white, and blue logo. One student wrote “Freeman #1” while another student wrote scripture from John 3:16. Most of the students were members of the school’s Art Club and SOAR Team.

Paula Baker, admiring the homemade art at her feet and speaking individually with the students, was joined outside by Chief Clinical Officer Jeff Thompson and Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Baker.

“We have some really fantastic artists here,” Paula Baker said.