Balloon project expands outreach to Stark County seniors

When Sarah Cole launched LIFT UP Balloons & Designs in Massillon in 2023, her goal went beyond creating festive décor. She wanted her business to lift spirits, create meaningful moments and give back to the community. That vision led to the Blessing Balloons Project, which is now entering its second year and expanding significantly across Stark County.

The Blessing Balloons Project began in 2025 as a way for Cole and her team to use their talents to serve others. Through partnerships with community organizations and dozens of volunteers, the project delivers balloon arrangements and handmade cards to seniors in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities.

“This is the second year for the event, and it has grown to almost double the outreach from last year,” Cole said. Nearly 2,300 seniors are expected to receive balloon deliveries this year, up from about 1,300 seniors at 13 facilities in 2025.

Each recipient will receive a 2-by-2-foot stack of red and pink balloons topped with a white, heart-shaped balloon, for a total of nine balloons, along with a specially made card. Deliveries are scheduled for the first week of February.

“LIFT UP Balloons & Designs is more than balloon décor,” Cole wrote in an email interview. “We work with the mindset that we want to ‘lift up’ spirits by helping create moments that matter. While we specialize in custom balloon designs for celebrations of all kinds, our heart extends far beyond parties.”

Cole said last year’s deliveries left a lasting impression on both recipients and volunteers.

“The feedback from last year’s deliveries was truly unforgettable,” she said. “There were lots of happy tears of joy from both the recipients and the volunteers. Many of the seniors shared stories from their pasts and genuinely enjoyed taking the time to connect.”

The project has expanded this year in several ways, including the addition of a second production day and a new outreach partnership. Minerva First Christian Church is joining Perry Christian Church in helping coordinate distribution and hosting balloon production.

“This expansion allows us to produce balloons closer to their location, making transportation more efficient and accessible,” Cole said. “Our goal is to continue increasing community involvement, and this partnership provides a meaningful opportunity to do just that.”

This year’s deliveries will reach 26 facilities across Massillon, Canton, North Canton, Minerva, Wadsworth, Hartville, Alliance, Louisville and Navarre. Three facilities in Hartville – Altercare Hartville, Hartville Meadows and The Homestead at GentleBrook – are among those scheduled to receive balloons.

Volunteers play a key role in every stage of the project, from card coloring and balloon production to packing, transportation and delivery. Cole said more than 1,500 cards were colored by community members of all ages last year, while more than 100 volunteers helped inflate more than 11,000 balloons. Each delivery typically requires 10 to 15 or more volunteers, with additional family and youth participation during evening deliveries.

To help coordinate volunteers, the project uses an online sign-up system that outlines opportunities and current needs. On delivery days, volunteers load balloons into SUVs, vans and, when available, larger vehicles to transport them to facilities. Each delivery is carefully scheduled, with facility staff guiding volunteers to ensure a smooth and respectful experience.

“This project means everything to us,” Cole said. “At its heart, it’s about living out our faith through action – serving others with love, intention and joy. A simple balloon and hand-colored card may seem small, but those moments can bring comfort, dignity and hope to seniors who may feel forgotten or alone.”

Cole said the project continues to welcome volunteers and donors, emphasizing that no prior experience is needed and that every role makes a difference.