The Neighborhood Giving Project Workshop: Combatting Homelessness & "Art with a Heart" Silent Auction

Post Contributed by Jocelyne Adkins, Program Director

Nancy Ford of West Suburban Pads discusses how Pads has helped homeless families and individuals

As part of our "Art with a Heart" week-long theme, we attended a very thoughtful and important workshop at the Oak Park Public Library given by The Neighborhood Giving Project. Students learned about homelessness in our area and how West Suburban Pads provides supportive housing and services, as well as job training and financial assistance to families and individuals.

Poster identifying the ways West Suburban Pads has assisted clients

Students also participated in a number of activities, from making fleece blankets to decorating lunch bags, and assembling individual personal health kits for Pads clients. Some students also role played: they were given a backpack and asked by TNGP staff member to choose carefully between essential and luxury items and to consider their choices- what would it be like to hold your life on your back?

left to right: Jessica, Elise and Michelle (TNGP volunteer staff) teaching students how to make a fleece blanket

We wish to thank the all volunteer staff of The Neighborhood Giving Project in their planning and hosting of this workshop, as well as West Suburban Pads, for their dedicated efforts each and every day to assist those who are struggling with such essential needs as food and shelter. Thank you so much!!!

Backpack Activity: Jordan, Jadon and Jackson (front to back) work with Robyn (TNGP volunteer staff)

Dexter decorating a lunch bag for a Pad's client

TNGP lunch bag examples show how to brighten a child's day

Backpack Activity: Ginger, Norah and Jordan with Robyn (TNGP voluneteer staff)

Leila, Emily and Elise make packs of essentials: toothpaste, tooth brushes, floss, & deoderant

Ethan and Elijah make blankets

Teri Miller of West Suburban Pads shows Jacob how to make a fleece blanket by knotting the edges

Emory, Ms. Bernstein, Lucy, Leila and Jessica decorate lunch bags for Pads clients

Joey and Carson work together to make a fleece blanket

Theo and Lucy decorating lunch bags for Pads' clients

Lucy

On Friday, the last day of our "Art with a Heart" theme, students created illustrations* in an effort to raise money (via a silent auction with parents at pick up) for an organization of their choice. We discussed that there were many, many organizations that rely on donations and to narrow our choices we selected 3 organizations that Beye Discovery parents work with: The Children's Clinic in Oak Park; The Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago; and Feeding America. (Note: the votes were taken the following week and were very close, with "Feeding America" winning by a single vote).

*student choice ~ we wanted the children to have total ownership of what they created, a true "art from the heart" opportunity : )

Illustrations, front row: Jadon, Isaac P, and Anika.  back row: Dexter, Leila and Emory

We began the lesson by sharing how an organization in Boston called "The Art Connection" connects artists and donors to community service organizations. These organizations are unable to purchase original artwork due to limited funding and the Art Connection makes access to such art possible. And because of the generosity of artists and donors, many people (who would otherwise lack this opportunity) can experience the pleasure of viewing original works of art!

http://www.theartconnection.org/

Illustrations front row:Anika, Joel and Cassie  back row: Leila, Emory and Jordan

 
While visiting the Art Connection's website, each student chose a work of art in the Art Connection's gallery for the class to view. We identified the artist, the title of the artwork and the recipient community service organization (if the work was already placed).

It is our hope that this activity has helped the children realize that everyone (no matter how young or old) can play a role in helping others : ) The students' artwork is pictured below and captures their exuberance and imaginations. We would like to do this again in the spring, with all of our Beye Discovery students and families. Stay tuned!