Covenant Health Invites Kids to Send Thank-You Cards to Our Veteran Patients
- 4 minute read.
- Last Updated: 11/4/2025
At Covenant Health, we believe in honoring the brave men and women who have served our country. As part of this initiative, our military recognition program identifies veterans and helps provide them with the recognition they deserve. We invite children to join us in this mission by sending thank-you letters or cards to veteran patients, sharing gratitude to those who have sacrificed much for our nation. Download and print our thank you coloring pages to get started.
Providing Care for Veterans
Of the 17 million veterans in the U.S., only about one-third receive hospital care at Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities. The other two-thirds receive care at civilian hospitals. Covenant Health’s program helps identify veterans as part of the hospitals’ admission process. Our team members, such as social workers and RN case managers, can provide information to connect veterans with VA healthcare and other possible benefits.
Recognition for Inpatient Veterans
Our hospitals’ patient admission process includes questions about military service, creating opportunities for staff to thank and honor veterans. Once veterans have been identified, they receive a special pin or challenge coin and certificate thanking them for their service. In addition, our veteran patients often say the thank-you letters they receive from local children mean the most to them.
Cindy Winterberger, LMSW, director of social work and projects, coordinates our military recognition program which began at Covenant HomeCare and Hospice in 2016. She has been integral in implementing training and activities related to active military and veterans’ care at Covenant Health.
“My dad was a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, and my grandpa was a World War II Army veteran. Pride in my country has been instilled in me from a young age,” Winterberger said. “If not for the brave men and women who have stood to defend our nation, where would we be? Implementing this program across all 10 of our Covenant Health hospitals allows us the honor of showing appreciation and recognizing those that have served our country.”
You Can Help!
Students of all ages can participate in this heartfelt initiative by sending thank-you cards or letters to veteran patients. A simple card can brighten a veteran’s day and show them that their service and sacrifice are appreciated. Parents, teachers, youth groups, and others can help children create cards, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and respect for our veterans.
How to Participate
- Download our thank you coloring page cards or create your own card from scratch. Use colorful paper, markers, and stickers to make it special.
- Write a heartfelt thank you message expressing gratitude for their service.
- Mail the card to one of our facilities. See the list below for addresses.
Mailing Addresses
Covenant Health Claiborne
Attn: Administration, Betsy Maples
1850 Old Knoxville Road
Tazewell, TN 37879
Covenant Health Cumberland
Attn: Administration, Kallie Jones
421 South Main Street
Crossville, TN 38555
Covenant Health Fort Loudoun
Attn: Administration, Josh Evans
Fort Loudoun Medical Center Drive
Lenoir City, TN 37772
Covenant Health Fort Sanders Regional
Attn: Administration, Chaplain Randy Tingle
1901 Clinch Avenue
Knoxville, TN 37916
Covenant Health LeConte
Attn: Administration
742 Middle Creek Road
Sevierville, TN 37862
Covenant Health Methodist
Attn: Coordinator of Volunteer Services
990 Oak Ridge Turnpike
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Covenant Health Morristown-Hamblen
Attn: Rache’l McAdams
908 W 4th N Street
Morristown, TN 37814
Covenant Health Parkwest
Attn: Supervisor of Chaplain Services
9352 Park West Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37923
Covenant Health Peninsula
Attn: Manager of Clinical Services
2347 Jones Bend Road
Louisville, TN 37777
Covenant HomeCare and Hospice
Attn: Volunteer Services
3001 Lake Brook Blvd, Suite 101
Knoxville, TN 37909
Spread the Word
Encourage friends and classmates to join in and make cards too. The more cards we receive, the more veterans we can honor. By sending thank-you cards, children can play a vital role in honoring our veterans and bringing smiles to their faces. Let’s show our appreciation for the brave men and women who have served our country.
Thank you for your support in making this initiative a success!
Looking to Give?
Covenant Health supports a variety of military recognition programs such as We Honor Veterans and HonorAir Knoxville. Make a donation to support our veteran programs today.
