ART KITS FOR KIDS. One local lady is collecting art its for children in the foster care system, as well as collecting kits for the Head Start program.

When Terri Stanley’s 11-year-old granddaughter Lila said “no more” to gifts of art supplies during the safer-at-home order, “Art Kits for Kids” was born. Stanley, an artist herself, knows the meditative value of creating art. To date, almost 600 kits have been distributed in Eau Claire for preschoolers, kindergarten through fourth-graders, fifth- through eighth-graders, high school students, and budding artists at Beacon and Bolton shelters, Feed My People pop-up pantries, and through individual requests. Each kit is tailor-made when possible, and may include sketch pads, watercolors, colored pencils, watercolor paper, coloring books, sidewalk chalk, craft kits, puzzle books, and even glitter pens and journals for budding writers – plus a donated, handmade, age-sized face mask in a fun fabric – all wrapped up in a lightweight string backpack. Stanley also relies on input, advice, and help assembling and packaging the kits from her grandchildren Lila (11), Cami (15), and Calib (13). She’s now working on kits for the Head Start program as well as for foster children – a cause close to her heart having fostered 38 children herself. If you are interested in donating funds, visit the Facebook fundraiser “Art Kits for Kids” or message her directly on Facebook or Nextdoor.