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The carousel horses displayed throughout Meridian as part of the Around Town Carousels Abound public art project have been captured on note cards.

A fund-raising project of the Hope Village Guild, the horses are available at 24 local businesses and will be on sale at Merry Meridian on Saturday in Dumont Plaza.

“These note cards are wonderful ways to communicate with friends, or can be framed as special Meridian memories,” said Vicky McDonnell, project chairman.

Packaged in sets of eight – which include two each of four designs – and available in three series, the note cards are $10 per package.

Proceeds from the note card sales will go toward the Guild’s plans for the holiday season for the residents of Hope Village for Children.

“We depend on the contributions of the community to help us provide special Christmas memories for the children living at Hope Village at Christmas,” said Donna Ulmer, Guild president.

“Each year, we provide gifts and holiday events for approximately 40-50 children in our temporary and permanent shelters,” Ulmer said.

Founded in 2000 by Meridian native Sela Ward and community leaders, Hope Village for Children provides a place of hope and safety for children who have had to be removed from the primary caregiver’s custody due to abandonment, abuse and/or neglect. Hope Village Guild is an auxiliary organization, which provides financial and emotional support for the shelter’s children and staff.

“Funds raised by the Guild are used to provide birthday parties, furniture and supplies for the cottages, special events and other needed items, such as tutoring, and special trips for the children through the year,” Ulmer said.

Recently, the Guild sponsored the Hope Village Run at Bonita Lakes and, according to Diane Griffin, chairman, the event was a great success.

“Our community really comes out for this event,” Griffin said. “There is something for all ages and we love the involvement between runners, businesses and schools that participate.”

This year’s run not only saw its largest turnout in its eight-year history, but also the most money raised.

“About $20,000 was raised, which will be used to meet the needs of the children,” Griffin said. “We appreciate all who sponsored and participated, and we look forward to a bigger and better year for Run for Hope in November 2009.”

While the Guild works year round to meet the needs of Hope Village for Children, Christmas is a main focus of the group. The community is encouraged to participate in the Guild’s plans.

“We ask anyone who would like to help to contact us at Hope Village,” Ulmer said. “We have specific guidelines to follow, but we feel sure we can accommodate your individual desires to help us make this Christmas a great one at Hope Village.”

McDonnell added that purchasing the note cards is just one way to provide special memories at Christmastime, not only to the children of Hope Village, but also to friends and loved ones.

“These cards will make excellent Christmas happies and stocking stuffers,” McDonnell said. “Everyone in Meridian will want to have these beautiful pictures of our treasured carousel horses.”







Where to buy



Below is a list of businesses provided by Hope Village Guild that will sell the Carousel Note Cards. These businesses will give all the proceeds to the Hope Village Guild.



World of Flowers

Aimee’s

Anderson’s Pharmacy

Cartmell Art Gallery

Merrehope’s Gift Shop

Pampered Bodies

LeMaxim

Brown Printing

Body Bar

Salon 39

Southern Gardens

Cater’s Market

Plant the Earth

Connections Unlimited

Around the Corner

Little Acres

Southern Accents

Funky Monkey

Woodstock

MSU Meridian

The Liberty Shop

Reflections

Saxon’s

Loeb’s