By Melissa Robinson
Contributing Editor 

  Parents in Henry County will soon have an alternative to the local hospital emergency room or adult-focused clinic for urgent care needs with the soon-to-be opened Children’s at Hudson Bridge Urgent Care Center in Stockbridge.

Delaney Connell, formerly of Luella Elementary School, was one of 50 students whose artwork was chosen to be displayed in the new Children’s at Hudson Bridge Urgent Care Center. Special photo

  Officials held a reception last week to honor winners of an art contest where approximately 130 people attended and students were able to see where in the facility their artwork would be displayed.

  According to Laura Turner, Community Outreach Liaison for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the contest was open to Henry County public and private school students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and many of the entries were coordinated by school art teachers. The theme of the art contest was “My Perfect Day” and nearly 1,000 entries were submitted. Out of those, 50 were selected to be displayed in the new facility. Winners were notified at the end of the school year and invited to attend the reception.

   “I’m really excited that my art got chosen,” said Aaron Platte, formerly of Bethlehem Elementary, whose drawing of a perfect day depicted a baseball game.

  Turner said the artwork will  stay on display until next spring when the next art contest is held, hopefully making this an annual event. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hospitals, including Egleston, Hughes Spalding and Scottish Rite, as well as other neighborhood locations, select artwork to hang in their facilities in a similar manner.

  “We were thrilled at the tremendous participation this first year and with the many talented students who submitted their art,” said Turner. “It's our hope that their creative and colorful illustrations of what their perfect day would be, will help to cheer the patients that will visit our facility this year.”

  Children’s at Hudson Bridge will also hold a Community Open House this Saturday on July 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. where parents can learn more about the services offered. There will be plenty of activities for the kids including inflatables, face painting, giveaways, a clown and music. A blood drive will be going on and parents will also have an opportunity to tour the new facility.

  Although the facility doesn’t officially open until August 1, there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 25.

  Turner said that Children’s at Hudson Bridge Urgent Care Center will be open 365 days a year and will offer treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, as well as outpatient lab and radiology services.

  Children’s Hudson Bridge Urgent care center is located at 1510 Hudson Bridge Rd. in Stockbridge, in the Hudson Bridge Crossing Shopping Center next to Walmart.