Verona Art Teacher Plays it Forward with Hearts of Hope

Three years ago, when Joni Jasterzbski received a brightly painted ceramic heart while finishing cancer treatment, she saw the gift as a symbol.

"I saw this heart as a symbol both mentally and emotionally as the beginning of the rest of my life. Jasterzbski, a Verona school district art teacher known to her students as "Mrs. J.," had to take a leave of absence when she was originally diagonosed with Stage 3 cancer.

Returning to her teaching job, Jasterzbski began to "play it forward," helping her students and other groups decorate 6,000 hearts to be delivered to other cancer patients, as well as military personnel, senior citizens and other people in need of an emotional boost.

The Hearts of Hope program is a component of Interregnum, Inc., a non-profit organization that also runs bereavement and educational programs for those people who have recently lost a spouse or other family member.

"We are the fun part, the less sad program," said Hearts of Hope Program Director Sue Macheska.

Macheska and Jasterzbski have become friends, with Jasterzbski traveling to Interregnum's Montville headquarters to either pick up kits for painting, drop off finished creations, or even help roll out and mold the clay hearts.

"She is a perfect fit.  She takes the creativity into school," said Macheska about Jasterzbski.  Macheska added, "She is a legend in Verona. The kids love her.  She is so involved. We are lucky to get her."

For her work in the Verona schools, Jasterzbski was recognized at a recent meeting.

While Jasterzbski works primarily with elementary school students at the and schools, she has also helped CCD classes, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops and high school students working on community service projects. 

Jasterzbski adds painting the hearts is a great Ladies Night Out project or for an activity for a children's birthday party.

For her art students, Jasterzbski incorporates themes learned in the classroom. Creations range from simple paintings of patterns or drawings of flowers, butterflys and sports balls, to abstract designs created by art students in high school.

What Jasterzbski finds most meaningful are the cards students fill out to send with their creation. Students provide their first name and some information about themselves, such as the sports they play or the pets they own. 

Several recipients have responded to these cards through the school's email.  The responses have been placed on a bulletin board in F.N. Brown's hallway, along with pictures of the students with their creations.

Many recipients write about how receiving this gift helped them, especially when it brightened a tough day. Other letters answer questions the student artist might have had, such as what games the recipient liked to play as a child or whether or not they enjoyed creating art works.

The letters are read as part of the morning announcements. "It is full circle. It comes back to the kids," said Jasterzbski.

Once the hearts are painted, Macheska explains Intergennum volunteers glaze them and place a ribbon through them, creating a pendant and package them for delivery. 

Jasterzbski and her students latest creations were part of a

The ceramic hearts come in boxes of 25 for service groups.  "It is turn key," Macheska said.

In addition to the hearts, groups receive the paint brushes and paints. The cost for each heart is $4, a cost the Verona parent organization has covered for Jasterzbski's art classes.

While the service groups cover the cost, the recipients receive the heart as a gift. Jasterzbski notes for a group of women getting together to paint, it is still a relatively inexpensive, fun night out.

To learn more about the program, click here.