The Volunteer Clowns of Tellico Village have worked to put a smile on the faces of children and elderly across East Tennessee since 2004.
Helen Cooke founded the organization as a suggestion from her sister to gather retired teachers together and do tricks for children in hospitals, Kathy Kutschera, club president, said.
“They were looking to perform at the Children’s Hospital and assisted living and nursing homes in the area,” Kutschera said.
The group started from scratch, having to gather money to create costumes and tricks. In 2009, equipment like balloons and fliers were purchased, and Cooke retired from the club. She handed her group over to Kutschera, who began leading in 2010 with a new mission statement and vision.
“The vision of the group is to bring laughter, happiness and joy to the children and elderly in our area,” Kutschera said. “Our mission is we conduct clowning programs at assisted living (facilities), hospitals and charitable events within 45 minutes of Tellico Village.”
The clowns participate in different programs like the Katepillar Kids Camp held in conjunction with Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center with Covenant Health and the Kiwanis Club Terrific Kids program. Members visit hospitals including Fort Sanders, University of Tennessee Medical Center, Parkwest Medical Center and Tennova Healthcare.
Bev Hawkins enlisted in the club 10 years ago because she assumed it would be fun and she wanted to give back to the community by putting smiles on faces of those who are struggling in life.
“I would think that just the fact that it does bring cheer to either, you know, we go to Children’s Hospital and do things for children, and we do things for the elderly that probably don’t have a lot of things,” Hawkins said. “The people that I know that are in nursing homes, assisted living, those kinds of places, really enjoy having a little entertainment, and as much as I think we do bring some smiles, they enjoy it and they appreciate it.”
The crew also participates at the United Way’s Pump Day, which is held on July 4 each year. Some clowns participate only in gigs located at assisted living homes or ones only at hospitals. Tom Johnson heads the hospital clowns, who go to chemotherapy wards 10-13 days per month to lighten the atmosphere.
“The thing is when you’re in the hospital you have no control over what they’re doing to you,” Kutschera said. “Working with kids, you give them the control.”
Kutschera said 14 active clowns are included on the roster, but only three or four participate in each gig. Kutschera plans to hold a trip for the club next week to Baptist Hospital West in Knoxville. The organization will also celebrate nursing home week with a luau. Members will paint faces while Rob Hensley, whose clown name is Billy Bob, ties balloons.
The troop makes sure they accommodate all people regardless of what it takes. Kutschera recalled visiting Baptist West and meeting a blind woman who could not watch the tricks. The members made sure she felt them perform the tricks. Members also perform songs and dances like the “Hokey Pokey” and “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
“We end up playing off one another, and that is what makes it so special,” Kutschera said.
The clowns just want to “let the laughter loose” for children and elderly who desperately need to smile. The organization visits at least one assisted living facility per month and no more than five. Kutschera said if the group wasn’t enjoying themselves anymore, or bringing joy to others, they would stop immediately.
Kutschera said the club always welcomes new clowns and needs them. The reason only three or four members attend each event is because of time restraints that prohibit more from coming, but the more the merrier, she said.
“No one else puts red noses on,” Kutschera said. “No one else makes themselves look funny.”
