MANSFIELD — Although COVID-19 still looms, positive messages in the form of chalk art have spread across Mansfield, lifting the spirits of the community in uncertain times.
It started when 10-year-old Tripp Steffan, with the help of his mother Michele Glasgo, LPN at OhioHealth Mansfield, decided to write inspiring, positive messages all over Mansfield, including Glasgo’s workplace.
“It’s kind of nice to see other people embracing it and shining light on the entire healthcare system,” Glasgo said.
Steffan started his chalk art project at the Troy Township Fire Department, then he moved onto the Mansfield Police and Fire Departments shortly after.
When Glasgo asked her son if he wanted to chalk the EMS bay wall at OhioHealth Mansfield, he immediately agreed.
“We had done quite a few messages on the inside and outside of the wall, and then most of the people from the E.R. joined and started drawing messages on the wall also,” Steffan recalled.
After Glasgo and Steffan started off the wall with messages like “stay safe,” “you do amazing work for the city” and “#OhioHealthstrong,” more messages from staff members at the hospital quickly followed.
“It gives everyone encouragement and they’re more likely to stay home and be safe, and instead of going out every day, only going out when they really need to really go out,” Steffan said.
The idea of the chalk art even reached beyond the walls of the hospital. Glasgo remembered that at one point she saw a community member outside at six in the morning writing messages.
Steffan and Glasgo have also helped out their community in other ways, such as participating in scarf drives where they would ask the police and fire departments if they had any spare scarves, hats or gloves to donate to the homeless.
When asked how she feels knowing she has a son wanting to uplift their community, Glasgo offered one big word: lucky.
“I’m blessed that he’s mine,” she said, becoming emotional as she spoke of the pride she has in her son. “He just has a heart for God, and serving others and being a good person, especially with what’s going on in our world today.”
“Many people see that all it takes is one act of kindness to do a trickle down effect that can change people’s outlook,” Glasgo said.
During a time like this, Steffan’s act of kindness has brightened Glasgo’s day, along with her coworkers.
“This (COVID-19) is a negative situation that’s happening in our world and it took one 10-year-old to do one chalk art and it got our entire community involved,” Glasgo said. “It changed the whole atmosphere of our department, and it’s changed the people that walk into those buildings.”
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