May 7, 2020
Hello Friends,
In case you missed my video that we sent out last week, I figured I would put my thoughts into a blog as well and include a few more updates! First and foremost, I hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe. These are challenging times, but we will stay strong together and stay connected until we meet again in person!
As you know, Studio ACE stands for Arts, Community, and Education. So how has a community-driven organization like ACE been able to stay connected and serve the community since we haven’t been able to hold arts education classes in the studio or provide art experiences out in the community? One of the biggest ways we have done this by bringing the art experience home to you through our FREE Art Kits, which are full of art supplies and inspiration to keep up creativity while staying home.
So far, we have given away over 1200 FREE Art Kits! That’s just over 600 Art Kits given out through Studio ACE and 600 through our partnership with Oceanside Unified School District. The kits have been available during OUSD’s weekly free meal pickups, where they are serving literally thousands of students each week. Yes, that number is correct—there are thousands of students who need our support! We are also proud to report that we are now partnering with USO Camp Pendleton to bring Art Kits to military families. The need for these creative resources keeps growing, and ACE will continue to meet that need as long as we have the funds and supplies available to do it!
Truly, the response to the Free Art Kits has been overwhelming and positive. We have received so much love and gratitude. Here are a just a couple of examples of some of the lovely thank you notes we have received:
One family wrote: Thank you for your kindness and the art kits, you are uplifting our spirits so much.
And here is another: My daughter and I want to thank you for the art kit we received yesterday. To her this was made specifically for her, to help her, and to cheer her up during this time. You guys and everyone who made this possible are amazing.
That ‘everyone’ referenced is YOU—all of you who have given monetary contributions and art supply donations, the volunteers who pack and sort the kits (all carefully masked and gloved of course), the teachers who create art activities and provide videos for the projects, and the incredible ACE staff that coordinates everything behind the scenes. Thank you, you are all utterly amazing!
At this time, we are asking for more help so we can keep this momentum going! There are still literally thousands of OUSD students, as well as others in our community, who could use some uplifting through the arts…and we will give as many Free Art Kits away as we can raise funds for or receive supplies for. Did you know that just $5 will provide 3 students with a Free Art Kit?? Any amount helps and we genuinely appreciate any gift!
We understand how hard times are right now, so if you are not able to give, please just send out a virtual hug to the world and we will send it right back. From my heart to yours, please stay safe, stay healthy, stay kind, and stay creative!
Warmly,
Julia Fister, Executive Director
