For most of her 30 years at Elim Christian Services, Cindy has been building her skills, helping staff and fellow clients at the nonprofit organization and participating in volunteer projects. She has a talent for helping, but another of her skills has allowed the 51-year-old to find her calling as an artistic entrepreneur. She’s gained experience in art classes in Elim’s Adult Services program in Orland Park, painting seasonal pictures and recreating scenes such as a sun rising over the ocean.
Earlier this year, her cards became a mainstay at Dixon’s Florist in Munster, Indiana, where they’re displayed with a short biography about Cindy and sell for about $4 each. The proceeds help her purchase more art supplies as well as her personal needs. The cards also are available through Elim by emailing Bradley.Johnson@elimcs.org. Cindy also works in the warehouse at Elim, and her supervisor, Paul Tucker, helped her get the cards into the florist shop, where they’ve become a high demand item.