On His Path organizes car cruise for local long term care facilities

MT. PLEASANT - Marj Helt, a resident of Savannah Heights, sat excitedly outside of her nursing home, waving and smiling as more than fifty cars drove by last Saturday.

'I liked the cool tall white one. My favorite [car] is the Mustang,” she said after the procession concluded.

Mt. Pleasant-based nonprofit, On His Path, invited the community to join in a car cruise which visited nine senior-living facilities in Henry County to bring a little joy to quarantined residents.

Jean Mitchell, co-founder of the organization said the event was the first of its kind for On His Path and planning began just two weeks prior.

'Because the care facility residents being quarantined for seven weeks now, we're just going to wave at them and try to cheer them up a little bit,” Mitchell said.

Cars participating in the cruise ranged from collectors vehicles to family vans and trucks.

Brian and Elissa Swafford, who brought their ‘78 Corvette, said they were excited at the opportunity to 'get out” and to visit the nursing homes, even from a distance.

'I was very motivated by, this is one little thing we can do to brighten other people's day, especially those who are shut-in. My mom recently passed away and she lived in Sunnybrook Assisted Living so we know what those communities are like and how just a little thing like this could really put a smile on so many faces,” Elissa said.

As the participants drove by the long-term care facilities, many honked or held signs to let residents know they were not alone.

Lindsay McCoy, an employee of Savannah Heights, who sat with Helt through the parade, said events like On His Path's car cruise are 'really great because [residents] can't have visitors.”

'It's nice just to know they're still here for us,” she added.