Student artwork will be for sale at Lake Trail Middle School next week during a charity art show aimed at helping the Comox Valley's homeless.
The art show kicks off Monday, June 24 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in room 102 at Lake Trail School. Artists featured in the show will be on hand to discuss their work and refreshments will be available.
"We worked really hard on this and there's a lot of talented people putting art into it," says Grade 8 Lake Trail student and non-profit organization Gimme Shelter founder Rachael Jancowski, noting funds from the art show will go towards care packages for the homeless via her organization, and the show will feature plenty of art styles to choose from.
"There's graffiti art, there's stencil art, there's photography, there's drawings — there's all different sorts of art — there's even jewelry," she adds.
The art show will also be open to the public Tuesday, June 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m and Thursday, June 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. Jancowski notes Quality Foods in Comox is sponsoring the event.
The featured art has been created by students in Grades 7 to 9 and most of the art on display will be available for purchase, though Jancowski notes some pieces have already sold. Prices will range from $15 to $100 per piece.
Proceeds from the show will help pay for three rounds of care packages for the Comox Valley's homeless, says Jancowski.
"During the fall we're going to be doing about 75 (care packages), and then during the winter we're probably going to be doing about 75, and then in the spring we're going to do 100, so around 250 (total)," she explains, noting the packages will contain daily necessities like toothpaste, a toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and comb.
"We're also going to put a few personal touches in there, just to bring up their day even more, like a card and a cookie," adds Jancowski.
She started Gimme Shelter over six months ago. She has since spoken at Courtenay council, and to various other groups and organizations in the Valley in an effort to raise awareness around the issue, advocate on behalf of the homeless, and engage in projects like the care packages in an effort to help them.
For more information about Gimme Shelter check out its Facebook page or e-mail gimmesheltercomox@gmail.com.