The holiday season is filled with a variety of fundraising events and projects and New Hartford High School clubs are no exception. The New Hartford Art Club held its third annual “Coffee For A Cause” fundraiser for Angels Among Us Food Pantry over Thanksgiving break at Stride Coffee Roasters in the village.
Each year, the Art Club members make 10″x10″ paintings and drawings of coffee mugs to sell at a local coffee shop, with all proceeds donated to the food pantry.
This year was one of the most successful fundraisers yet.
“We raised over $500 for Angels Among Us,” says Art Club treasurer Emma Schara. “It’s become a great way for all of us to come together to raise money for a local charity and a fun way to get all of the members of the art club to come together.”
“This year was particularly special, since one of their fridges [at the food pantry] broke down,” says Art Club president Evie Ruggerio. “We wanted to help offset the costs surrounding a new fridge.”
This year’s activities also included a large coffee-themed mural for Art Club members and coffee shop patrons to color in.
“The final result is an amazing, colorful, unique work of collaborative art!” says Mr. Vaughn, New Hartford art teacher and Art Club advisor.
The annual fundraiser has become a staple of the Art Club’s yearly activities. The diversity of art style and media in pieces has helped to attract a variety of patrons who aid their local community through their purchase. Themes ranged from hot cocoa, to tea, to coffee with styles ranging from “cartoon to realism,” according to Evie.
For students, the food pantry and the community as a whole, the project has been quite popular.
“It’s a very impactful fundraiser in a very short amount of time, so a win-win for everyone,” says Mr. Vaughn. “I think the coffee shops like it because it brings in new traffic and everyone is happy to help the food pantry.”
The project has also been a great way for students to have a positive impact on their community.
“It’s such a powerful feeling–that everyone who contributes art feels–knowing that our art has a direct impact for those in need locally,” says Evie.
As seniors who have participated in every fundraiser so far, Emma and Evie both offered advice for underclassmen hoping to continue the tradition in further years.
“My advice is to really be involved,” says Emma. “It doesn’t take a lot of someone’s day to make at least one piece of artwork [and] it ends up being a really fun experience to just go and hangout and help give out the artwork.”
“It doesn’t matter if you make one piece or ten,” says Evie. “Anything helps!”
