One of our favorite projects at Flawless is our outreach work, especially at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center where we spread positivity and gratitude to veterans in our community. This is such a rewarding experience because of the genuine and kind responses we receive. Such a small gesture on our part makes a big impact.
Our work begins the moment we arrive in the parking lot. We organize our Flawless backpacks and lunchboxes with cold water, flawless branded tattoos, post it notes and postcards in them. These postcards are extra special because they include art that was made by youth in our community during our Flawless workshops. Through their artwork, we are able to share some love and make stronger connections. We also come equipped with our Flawless Post-it notes that we write positive messages on to pass out and leave on the walls and entrances to the hospital.
The responses to our work from both veterans and their families have been incredible. Last December a former marine and professional Santa with a reindeer truck stopped us in the parking lot. He shared how important connection and love is at that time of year, especially for people visiting the VA. He loved what we do so much he expressed a desire to work with us. This conversation in the parking lot reaffirmed our inspiration and impact.
When we approach the entrance, we have our Flawless Post-it notes ready to go so we can place them everywhere. Even just a glance at them, as someone walks by, can be the spark of joy that changes their day. We often get stopped by veterans and other visitors while we are writing and “posting” our notes, and they share delight and gratitude with us.
One of our Flawless team members shared:
“At the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, my favorite interaction was with a man we met in the entrance hallway of the hospital. Janine, Dalgis, and I had been writing positive messages on Flawless post-it notes and placing them on the walls next to a memorial in the hallway. We also lined up Flawless postcards underneath the memorial. There was a man scanning the messages, and he turned to me. He said, ‘This is a really important thing you’re doing. People need to see these. This made my day.’ He explained that he was grateful for the positivity and that it was very important to honor these veterans in the memorial and the ones in the hospital.”
When we’re not decorating hallways with our Flawless love, we like to approach veterans outside of the hospital and give them a lunchbox or backpack. We want to honor them in the kindest ways possible, and we feel they deserve to feel loved by their community. The conversations we have with veterans are often the most important part of our interactions. Hearing their stories and how we uplift them is undoubtedly the best part of our visit.
“Thank you so much. You don’t know how much I appreciate it and how much I needed it.”
Receiving the gratitude from these heroes, and knowing that we had put a smile on their faces for even just a moment is such a heartwarming feeling. While our outreach work is intended to impact the lives of others, at the end of the day we realize it has as much of an impact on us as it does on the people we serve. Here is your reminder to do something for someone else today, you will be surprised at what the feeling will do for you in return. And always remember… #YouAreFlawless.
Thank you to Be Well PBC for their generosity in supporting this outreach work.
