Secretary gifts her talent to Lights of Love

Guest Services secretary Karen Dillon has been artistically creative for as long as she can remember. You may recognize Karen because earlier this year, the Cancer Center featured her on the Wow Wall for writing messages and drawing little pictures on screening stickers that inspired patients. But she is also a painter.

“I find that painting relaxes and calms me,” Karen said. “Painting shows a piece of a person's soul, a light. When words can't be expressed, strokes and colors convey.”

In the spirit of the season, Karen has gifted her talent to Volunteer Services’ Lights of Love program. She has hand-painted each wooden commemorative ornament that hangs on the Lights of Love tree in the CRMH Lobby. The ornaments hang in honor or memory of people who are special to our employees. Proceeds from Lights of Love benefit Carilion patients and families in need of lodging.

Karen paints the ornaments with tiny brushes. Employing delicate, air-brush strokes, she captures scenes of the season—a snowman, a tree bearing holiday lights on a snowbank, a red cardinal perched on a snow-dusted pine tree, holly with winterberries.

With your donation of $10, one of Karen’s hand-painted scenes can hang in honor of someone special to you. To donate to Lights of Love, please go to https://CarilionFoundation.org/give:

• Donation
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• Other (type in "Lights of Love")

Thank you for your support and have a wonderful holiday season.