Wichita Hearts for Healers - What We've Done

What we've done

Growing Wichita’s support for our local healthcare workers.

These are the events in which our volunteers have participated.

Woofstock 2025

What an event! October 4, 2025 will go down as one of our doggone favorite events! We even collected almost as many messages as we handed out Milk-Bones. The best part of the day was having several truly caring volunteers.

Open Streets ICT - Douglas

For Open Streets ICT - Douglas this year, we were down at the East High School Hub and had some wonderful conversations with Wichitans.

Wichita Independent Business Association Nonprofit Expo

We made some wonderful connections at the 2025 WIBA Nonprofit Expo on September 23, 2025.

Latin Fest

On September 6, 2025, we had the joy of attending Latin Fest at the Evergreen Recreation Center. The music was moving, the food was tantalizing, and the people were so supportive of our medical community!

American Cancer Society Relay for Life

July 19, 2025 was a heartwarming day as we were honored to attend the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. So many impactful stories and so much gratitude for healthcare workers.

Open Streets ICT - NoMar

Open Streets ICT was once again a bustling hub of joyful activity on May 4, 2025. We have such a supportive community!

First Friday at Hopping Gnome

Thanks to Haute Handmade Pop-Up Market, we got to attend First Friday at Hopping Gnome Brewery in the Douglas Design District. Talk about a relaxing evening!

Veg Fest ICT 2025

Sunday, April 27, 2025 was a cool and damp day for Veg Fest ICT, but that sure didn't dampen the spirits of the many people who came by our booth and wrote messages for our medical community.

Mid-Kansas Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Dental Hygienists Evening

On Thursday, April 24, 2025, we were honored to be invited to share the meaning of the Wichita heart flag with Wichita-area dental hygienists. Sometimes the dental field gets forgotten among healthcare workers, but they're essential.

Open Streets ICT - WSU/Shocker Neighborhood

On April 13, 2025, we enjoyed a beautiful and successful Sunday collecting messages for healthcare workers.

Wichita Flea Market

Saturday and Sunday, January 18-19, 2025, the Wichita Flea Market was hopping! The gratitude people expressed for healthcare workers was heartwarming.

HoliDAZE by Haute Handmade Popup Market

Sunday, December 1, 2024, was a treat-filled afternoon at HoliDAZE by Haute Handmade Popup Market. We enjoyed both the variety of vendors and the richness of the conversations with folks who stopped by our booth.

Wichita Flea Market

On Saturday and Sunday, November 16-17, 2024, we tabled at the Wichita Flea Market at the Wichita Sports Forum. Unbeknownst to us, The Kansas Gastronomist stopped by our booth and he later gave us a shout-out on The Wichita Dinner Table with Wichita by E.B.

Dia de los Muertos 2024

On Saturday, November 9, 2024, we enjoyed the culture and festivities at Dia de los Muertos 2024 at Nomar Plaza. We were there from 9 am until 9 pm and collected messages in both English and Spanish. The messages in Spanish were distributed to local clinics that serve primarily Spanish-speaking Wichitans.

Lexi's LAMB Foundation 5k 2024

On Sunday, October 27, 2024, we tabled at the Lexi's LAMB Foundation 5k which raises money to provide supplies for pediatric units in Wichita-area hospitals. The event was fun - even with trick or treating at the end!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 2024

We were honored to be included by the American Cancer Society in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 2024 on Sunday, October 20 at Riverfront Stadium. All messages collected at the event went to local oncologists.

Open Streets ICT - Douglas

Open Streets ICT - Douglas on Sunday, October 13, 2024, was our busiest single day of message collection to date! Wichitans wrote 131 messages of support for local healthcare workers.

Art & Ale Oktoberfest Pop Up Market

Sunday, October 6, 2024, made for a relaxing afternoon as Wichitans wrote messages while browsing the vendors at Norton's Brewing Company. We're grateful to Haute Handmade Pop Up Market for the opportunity.

Holiday Galleria: A Junior League of Wichita event

On Saturday, October 5, 2024, Christmas music filled the air as we collected messages at the Junior League of Wichita's Holiday Galleria. We were touched by the invitation from the Junior League to be there on their Healthcare Hero Day.

Rock Regional Hospital First Annual Car & Craft Fair

On Saturday, September 28, 2024, we were delighted to table at Rock Regional Hospital's First Annual Car & Craft Fair. We heard nothing but positive about Rock Regional & their staff - from both staff and patients. All messages collected at the event were delivered to Rock Regional admin to distribute to staff.

Pink in the Park - Wind Surge & American Cancer Society

On Saturday, September 14, 2024, we were honored that the American Cancer Society included us in tabling at their Pink in the Park event at the Wichita Wind Surge game. The event was to raise awareness of breast cancer and the need for screening. We were particularly touched when two separate healthcare workers came up to us and said that what we're doing means so much to them.

Wichita Flea Market

On Saturday & Sunday, August 17 & 18, 2024, we tabled at the Wichita Flea Market at the Wichita Sports Forum. Attendees wrote moving messages and we had the opportunity to have some heartfelt conversations.

First Friday Sunflower District Artisan Pop-Up

On Friday, July 5, 2024, the First Friday Sunflower District Artisan Pop-Up provided a relaxing entry into the second half of summer.

3rd Annual Plant Sale & Market

On Saturday, June 23, 2024, we tabled at the refreshing 3rd Annual Plant Sale & Market where attendees wrote incredibly creative messages.

JuneteenthICT

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, we absolutely loved attending JuneteenthICT! The feeling of community was palpable and attendees wrote heartfelt messages.

ArtFest at Riverfest! Pop Up Market 2024

On Saturday and Sunday, June 1 & 2, 2024, attendees at the ArtFest at Riverfest! Pop Up Market wrote a whopping 220 encouraging messages for our local healthcare workers. We were also able to let many healthcare workers in attendance know what the Wichita heart flag means.

ICT Veg Fest 2024

On Sunday, May 26, 2024, we enjoyed a leisurely afternoon at ICT Veg Fest. It was such a relaxing and productive event and we appreciate all the heartfelt notes that people wrote.

Open Streets ICT - Nomar

What a beautiful day at Open Streets ICT - Nomar on Sunday, May 5, 2024! Our dedicated volunteers collected a bunch of amazing messages for Wichita-area healthcare workers.

Open Streets ICT - WSU/Shocker Neighborhood

Open Streets ICT - WSU/Shocker Neighborhood was a highly successful and truly fun event on Sunday, April 14, 2024! Wichitans wrote a huge number of messages for our local healthcare workers.

Wichita's Littlest Heroes Christmas Party

On Sunday, December 3, 2023, we had a blast attending the Wichita's Littlest Heroes Christmas party and collecting grateful messages for healthcare workers from children and families who are affected by a child's life-altering diagnosis.

Lexi's LAMB Foundation 5k

On Sunday, October 29, 2023, we admired runners who braved the unexpected cold and ice to raise money for Lexi's Lamb Foundation and we were honored to collect their heartfelt messages for healthcare workers.

OK Elementary Trunk or Treat 2023

The PTO at OK Elementary invited us to participate in their school's Trunk or Treat on Thursday, October 26, 2023. The students created a bunch of fantastic messages which were dropped off for staff at Wesley Children's Hospital.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk 2023

On Sunday, October 22, 2023, we attended the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk put on by the American Cancer Society. Participants wrote some truly meaningful messages which were given to local cancer clinics.

Botanica's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular 2023

Throughout the five days of their exciting Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Botanica graciously allowed us to collect messages of gratitude in the Bee House again. Wichita totally showed up for the event and wrote a whopping 591 messages for us to distribute to hospitals and clinics.

Open Streets ICT - Douglas

Open Streets ICT on Sunday, September 17, 2023 was a blast! So many people out on Douglas and they wrote 123 messages of gratitude.

Open Streets ICT - NoMar

On Sunday, May 7, 2023, we loved the enthusiastic response we got from the community. They wrote almost 100 messages of gratitude.

Open Streets ICT - WSU/Shocker Neighborhood

On Sunday, April 16, 2023, we joined the first Open Streets ICT to be held in the WSU/Shocker Neighborhood. Turnout was great despite the extreme wind and pretty chilly conditions.

Dia de los Muertos

On Saturday, October 29, 2022, we had the privilege of tabling at Dia de los Muertos at Nomar. The powerful sense of culture and community made for a rich day, and the community spirit carried over into the messages people wrote for healthcare workers.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

On Sunday, October 23, 2022, we attended the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk put on by the American Cancer Society. They graciously gave us table space and we collected some truly meaningful messages.

Botanica's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular 2022

On Friday and Saturday, October 14 & 15, 2022, Botanica generously allowed us to collect messages at their Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. We had Halloween themed notes for children to write and color in and they and their grown-ups made hundreds of fantastic messages. Many of the adults said it was the first time in a while they've had the opportunity to use crayons.

Open Streets ICT - Douglas

On Sunday, September 18, 2022, we enjoyed tabling at Open Streets ICT - Douglas. It was hot but fun, and people stopped and wrote quite a few messages.

Cowtown Community Days!

On Sunday, August 21, 2022, we tabled at Cowtown Community Days, an event where the Old Cowtown Museum hosts vendors from around the area. It was another hot summer day but we still received a few messages and had quite a bit of enthusiasm for the stickers and car magnets.

ICT Loves Dutch's

On Sunday, July 24, 2022, we tabled at ICT Loves Dutch's, an event to raise money for the RUNX1 Research Program. We received several heartfelt messages, a few donations, and had lots of people excited to pick up Wichita heart flag stickers, clings, and car magnets. It was an extraordinarily hot day so the event was relaxed and low-key.

Open Streets ICT - NoMar

On May 1, 2022, we took advantage of Open Streets ICT to collect messages of gratitude for the medical community and hand out Wichita heart flag stickers, clings, and key tags. We received 63 messages to pass on to our local healthcare workers, including some beautifully colored Wichita heart flags from children.

Sidewalk Chalking

In Fall of 2021, we got permission to chalk sidewalks with messages of support at several local hospitals. Where it was possible at one hospital, we also posted laminated signs expressing gratitude.

Ascension St. Francis Hospital, Oct 3, 2021