#planoartkits

A community and creativity based project created for Plano Kids in response to COVID 19

Plano Art Kits started out as an idea that was shared on Facebook. I have spent my summers helping the Dallas Museum of Art with their summer programming in undeserved Dallas county neighborhoods. I was saddened, as many others were, when I heard that due to safety concerns summer instruction and programming would be paused. I shared on Facebook my feelings and asked the question "what can we do? How do we do something?". For all teachers, safety is number one. With the help of Laura Grundler and the advice of Plano Arts Centre, we came up with the idea of designing kits that would be given away to families and shelters who needed them. Inside these kits was a variety of supplies and a free virtual lesson containing instructions for Visual Journaling.

 A community that cares

In order to fund this project, I created a GoFundMe that explained the purpose of the kits, how they would be safely distributed, and the importance of creative education and arts during a global pandemic. The link can still be viewed here. In under 24 hours, the project was completely funded with extra funds! This was exciting for us because that meant we could also purchase extra supplies and snacks that would we included in the kits.

Plano Art Leaders

When the project went live and funded, many of my incredible educator friends stepped up to help with the packaging of the kits. This group is Plano Art Leaders - Plano Art Teachers with a passion for creative community engagement. Thank you Laura Grundler for hosting this safe, socially distanced, assembly line kit creation in her family's driveway. Also, teachers volunteered to deliver our kits to two important shelters (Samaritan Inn & City House).

Safe and engaging

Families could also visit one of three locations in Plano to pickup an art kits. I am so appreciative of the families who came, supported, and donated to this opportunity.