Whitman students gathered in the Book Arts room Wednesday, Feb. 2 to turn glitter, paper hearts and creative sayings into charity. For the past four years the students living in the Fine Arts House (FAH) have hosted a Valentine’s Day-themed card making event to raise money for a local cause.
FAH members provided various art supplies for students to harness their creative energy and channel it into creating cards to sell as a fundraiser for the YWCA, whose mission is “enriching the lives of women and their families.”
FAH selected YWCA to ensure that the proceeds would help women and children have access to the funds they need year-round.
“The YWCA gets a lot of donations around wintertime and the holidays, so donations are low around February,” said Julia Schneider, Resident Advisor for the Fine Arts House.
Attendants such as sophomore Osta Davis appreciated the opportunity to have access to art materials and card making supplies which they may not have access to under normal circumstances.
“I’m not an artistic person. I never have a chance to come into the art building, and this was a casual and non-threatening opportunity to do so,” said Davis.
Other students enjoyed the “win-win” feeling of the event, as it was a fun and creative activity that also served a larger purpose by helping the community.
“I just think it’s a really good chance to get creative and make a bunch of cards for a good cause,” said sophomore Sarah Schaefer, a Fine Arts House resident.
Schneider considered the initial phase of the card making a success.
“The Book Arts Room was full this year with people! I was quite happy with the turn out. Hopefully sales will go well this week in Reid during lunch,” she said.
The handmade cards, ranging from funny to more traditional Valentine’s Day themes, will be available for purchase this week.
“All the money that we raise from the valentines [goes] to the women and children center. Many of the folks have been displaced by domestic violence, so this is a nice way of giving them a valentine,” said Fine Arts House Advisor, and co-sponsor of the event, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Mare Blocker.
“It’s a fun creative outlet. In college, people don’t take time to do crafty things very often,” said Schneider. “Also, it’s a great way to do something that’ll be a gift twice over: someone can give a card to his or her valentine, and the money then is a gift for someone at the YWCA.”
In the past the fundraiser has generated between 450 and 500 dollars for the YWCA.
“That’s a nice gift to them,” said Blocker.
The cards will be available for purchase in Reid Campus Center from 12 to 1 p.m., from Feb. 7 to Feb. 11.
