How Therapeutic Art Can Support Those Affected by Hurricanes Helene & Milton
A pivotal way to respond when life is scary around us is to activate. Be kindness in action. Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood was quoted, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” In 2018, I watched along with the Gulfcoast community in anticipation of where Hurricane Michael’s path would end. What was scary is the hurricane path was projected to make a direct line in one direction and within one day before landfall, the hurricane would make a sudden turn east. No matter what, we all experienced the unpredictable nature of storms and the reality that someone would receive the hurricane’s wrath.
Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 catastrophic storm on Florida's Panhandle between Mexico Beach and Panama City on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. Months later, I learned about an amazing effort to help this community heal through Art Therapist Stephanie Wray and Stars of HOPE. Participants painted wooden stars with colors and messages of hope. Stars were gathered and hung on fences at local schools. The community was given a space to create visual reminders of their healing and resilience. I was moved by how painting can be a powerful tool for emotional recovery after a disaster. With a mission to engage people of all ages in creative expression, Stars of HOPE empowers individuals to transform tragedy into a shared journey of emotional recovery, fostering resilience, connection, and a sense of community through peer support and art-based initiatives.
As a member of the Florida Art Therapy Association and volunteer crisis responder with Stars of HOPE, I will be hosting our first Stars of HOPE event for the Milton, Florida community. As I write this, we are leaving another traumatic hurricane season, but our hearts are strong for all those impacted by recent Hurricanes Helene and Milton. With our experiences of living along the Gulfcoast, we care and empathize with the efforts needed to rebuild months and years after a storm. When words are just simply not enough, communities can take the first meaningful step by creating to inspire healing and strength. You are invited to join our community to paint wooden stars for the Stars of HOPE event on January 12, 2025 at 11:30 am at First Presbyterian Church Milton at 5203 Elmira Street, Milton, Florida. What an amazing way to start the new year in 2025 by helping others.
You can also learn more about the work I do on the Meet Andrea page. Feel free to reach out for a free consult.
Looking forward to community connection,
Andrea Sutrick, ATR-BC, LMHC
Click here to learn more about Stars of HOPE >>
Click here to connect with the Florida Art Therapy Association>>