"A person's a person, no matter how small" - Dr. Suess
Following the devastating E5 tornado in Joplin, Mo., in 2011, Estes Park Public School students provided school supplies and household items to the victims of this severe storm. People from throughout the United States and throughout the world pitched in to provide many forms of support to the devastated Missouri community.
When flooding hit this area in September, 2013, Art Feeds reciprocated.
This Joplin-based organization found important ways to support our flood victims. Focusing on providing artistic experiences and materials, Art Feeds has served `more than 8,000 children and over 3,000 volunteers have been involved. Fifteen elementary schools have been benefitted by its programs typically located in storm devastated areas.
Art Feeds and Color Estes come to Estes Park
In the fall of 2013, Art Feeds staff and Joplin High School (JHS) students watched as the Estes Park community was impacted by the floods. Having been through a natural disaster as a community, Art Feeds and JHS students paired together to pay the kindness they once received forward. To do this, they created a project called Color Estes. Joplin High students created a Color Estes logo, video and web page to begin fund-raising efforts where over $5,000 were raised at colorestes.org. Over 203 JHS students participated in the fund-raising efforts.With hard work and perseverance they reached the fund-raising goal.
These funds have been used to create art packs for over 540 Estes Park Elementary students. An Art Feeds Art Pack includes:‐ markers, colored pencils, watercolors, a sketchbook, pens, pencils and erasers. The most special item in the packs is super hero cape. When distributing these packs, Art Feeds volunteers used their expertise to implement the "Super Hero" lesson with each student. This lesson is designed to allow students to come to their own conclusions about everyday heroes and how we can be heroes in their own community, even when things feel insurmountable. On Friday, April 4, five Art Feeds staff members, four Joplin High School staff and five Joplin High School students visited Estes Park Elementary to distribute these Art Packs in person to each student in Estes Park Elementary.
Art Feeds curriculum has been developed to specifically address the needs of children who have experienced a major disaster or trauma. Following a major trauma that disrupts their sense of normalcy, children can have a difficult time understanding and processing what has happened as well as knowing how to move forward with daily life. These lessons are intended to help students process their thoughts and express their feelings related to what they have experienced and help them develop healthy and creative ways to cope and move forward with their lives. The tools in the art pack allow students to continue expression and creativity to improve their coping and resiliency skills. All Art Feeds staff and JHS staff have been trained by Art Feeds to create a fun and safe environment for students to express.