Winning posts received gift cards from local restaurants. One week we asked for funny photos. The winner was Kim Lanski’s son being silly with duct tape! The next week we asked people how they were entertaining themselves during isolation. Kathy Schwertfager won that contest with her activity of making slime and learning about different kinds of snakes with her granddaughter. We hope everyone had fun!

In April, the foundation distributed #upliftCHQ rainbow buttons to not only brighten our local retail employees’ day but to thank them for providing the community with needed supplies during this challenging time. Any employee who posted a photo of themselves wearing the button received a gift card. Hamlet Farms was creative in posting their button on various items in the store.

It’s not too late to upload that photo with your button and #upliftchq! Thank you to all for participating!

Its next goal for #upliftCHQ was to support our children. The foundation wanted children to focus on the happiness in their lives, so we sent out rainbow-themed coloring sheets to nine northern Chautauqua County childcare centers. The centers encouraged the children to color the rainbows on one side and, on the other, draw pictures of what makes them happy. It received quite a few pictures back! Thank you to all the daycare participants for your beautiful drawings.

Ariel Gollnitz, Dollar General employee, was one of several retail winners with #upliftchautauqua buttons.

Currently, there are two events happening.

Join in uplifting northern Chautauqua County by participating in “Spread the Cheer with Chalk!” We are looking for artwork that inspires hope, uplifts the spirit, will make people smile and feel happy, and overall shows how you make others happy! Be creative. All ages are welcome to create chalk masterpieces in driveways, on sidewalks, and with owners’ permission, in front of stores! If you need chalk, please contact the office at 716-366-4892. We will do our best to get chalk to you safely! This event runs through Aug. 31. Everyone who submits a drawing on social media with the #upliftchq hashtag and completes the form on our website is eligible to win one of several prizes. www.nccfoundation.org/upliftchq

For the other event, the foundation has provided adult coloring/activity pages along with colored pencils and crayons to six assisted living facilities and to the clients of Meals on Wheels. Through the assistance of staff, family, and friends, we hope to share this artwork on social media and the walls of each facility. Again, our goal is to uplift the spirits of everyone in our community – young and not so young!

The #upliftchq campaign will run into the fall with several additional events in the planning stage! Like us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (nccfoundation) to stay up-to-date as we share current projects and roll out future events! For additional information or questions, e-mail ilord@nccfoundation.org or call the office at 716-366-4892.

A beautiful drawing was done through the collaboration of Ella Rohlin, Joseph Grice, and Shari Grice.

Kim, from Lake Shore Family Center, drew her puppies because they make her happy!