“Art in a Box” for Homeless Children of Contra Costa County

CONCORD, CA (Nov. 13, 2022) — The Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise is partnering with the Mt. Diablo Homeless Outreach Program for Education (Mt. Diablo HOPE) to provide “Art in a Box” that brings art supplies to students experiencing homelessness in our community.  This is also an opportunity for everyone to make a meaningful contribution to a local young homeless person.

For many years, the Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise has supported children and families who are vulnerable and living in poverty.  This year the members collaborated with the Michelangelo D’Onofrio Arts Foundation and Mt. Diablo HOPE to distribute art supplies to “HOPE students” throughout the Mt. Diablo Unified School District.

For families facing hardships, poverty and homelessness, art supplies often become a “luxury item” that people forgo so they can eat.  This year, the Rotary club is collecting donations and purchasing art supplies for children experiencing homelessness.

Rotary and the Arts Foundation developed a product that will bring a ray of happiness and a modicum of solace to as many children as they can reach. Conferences with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Education got the ball rolling. Many meetings later they conceived a program that centered around art. They named it Art in a BOX.

Art in a Box

Personal size boxes are filled with age-appropriate art supplies to be distributed by Mt. Diablo HOPE.  Each box costs about $25 to produce. And is filled with art tablets, construction paper, colored pencils, art erasers, markers, crayons, clay, painting sets, scissors, sharpeners, glue sticks, and even a drawing instruction booklet. Children smile and their eyes light up when they see “Art in a Box” and are overjoyed when they receive one.

This program depends on contributions.  Organizers place no time limit on donations. As long as children need help, the program will proceed throughout the year. To make a meaningful contribution to a local young person, send donations in any amount to:

The Rotary Club of Clayton Valley/Concord Sunrise
PO Box 4
Clayton, CA 94517

or

Michelangelo D’Onofrio Arts Foundation
3731 Merridan Drive
Concord, CA 94518

For more information contact:

• Joan Donofrio, 925 822-3994 email: joandonofrio@aol.com
• James Wogan, LCSW, McKinney Vento Homeless Liaison MDUSD Homeless Outreach Program for Education: 925 682-800 Ext. 3054  hope@mdusd.org