Nonprofit Art with a Heart in Healthcare helps children battle illness through virtual art projects amid the coronavirus pandemic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local nonprofit is making sure that children battling an illness inside a hospital get the tools they need to find their inner artist.

Even though the artist behind Art with a Heart in Healthcare can’t meet in person, the organization is helping children heal during the pandemic.

Rue Ander, 7, is painting a picture with help from her favorite artist, Brooke McKinney.

McKinney works with Art with a Heart in Healthcare, a nonprofit that helps sick children in hospitals participate in art projects.

Five years ago, Rue was diagnosed with leukemia.

“She went through 26 months of treatment, she is now 2 1/2 years treatment-free, which is amazing, but definitely it’s a shocker when you get told your kid has a chronic or life-threatening illness,” said Casey Cohen, Rue’s mother.

It was art that helped her daughter get through her treatments and heal.

Normally an artist with Art with a Heart would come down to a hospital such as Wolfson Children’s Hospital to meet with patients, but because of COVID-19, they can no longer be in hospital settings.

Now the nonprofit is doing everything online.

Coronavirus pandemic: Click here for updates