Annual Art Supply Drive For Youth Begins
The Arts & Culture Alliance is thrilled to be kicking off our third annual art supply drive in partnership with an amazing local organization, YSS of Marshall County. However, this year we have a special challenge for the community. West Marshall High School’s Student Philanthropy program, L.U.C.C. (Leading Uplifting our Community with Charity), has granted us $1,000 for and we are asking the community to match those dollars. Each dollar donated up to $1,000 will be matched to help us raise more than double what has been raised in the past few years.
The art supply drive began in 2020 when YSS was experiencing a 75% increase in therapy cases due to an increase in anxiety, stress and fear from COVID-19. Originally, we anticipated this effort to be a one-time occurrence. However, the response and benefits we have seen transpire out of these art supplies has far exceeded our expectations.
“We have countless stories of youth creating artwork while they are on their healing journey and the outcomes are stunning. You can visit YSS’s office in Downtown Marshalltown and find their walls decorated with artwork from their youth. Many of which who were previously struggling to attend therapy and programming, are now thrilled to participate due to the pride they feel from seeing their artwork on display,” shared Amber Danielson, Executive Director of the Arts & Culture Alliance.
In 2022, from January to June, YSS has seen a 250% increase in clients coming in for medication management. Youth are especially vulnerable as they are often unable to naturally express how they feel verbally. However, therapists at YSS can connect with their feelings more effectively through creative means. Art provides an avenue to express how they feel through color and content. The value of art – written poetry, drawn pictures, etc., often says more than the spoken word, especially those with limited language.
Executive Director of YSS, David Hicks, said, “by supporting the Arts and Cultural Alliance’s art supply drive, you are providing a tool to which some of the most vulnerable will be able to safely communicate their worries and fears. Our young people will build hope and understanding through creativity. What’s often difficult to discuss, can be more easily relatable through art”.
The mission of YSS is to provide prevention, education, treatment and residential services to children, youth and families; to advocate on their behalf; and to help them solve problems, grow and be self-sufficient, responsible, contributing members of society.
The Arts & Culture Alliance, a non-profit organization, was created in 2004 to cultivate a community of arts and culture by supporting, promoting and enriching existing opportunities and by seeking new possibilities. Our mission allows us to focus on enhancing the quality of life in Marshalltown by making it a place in which arts and culture thrive and our community flourishes.
To make a donation towards art supplies for YSS of Marshall County:
Please make checks out to Arts & Culture Alliance
and send to PO BOX 386, Marshalltown, IA 50158
Online Donations Accepted at www.artsandculturealliance.org/support (select Art Supply Drive)
For more information or questions, please us at
(641) 752-ARTS or director@artsandculturealliance.org
www.artsandculturealliance.org
