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Arts & Entertainment

Everyone Needs Art in Their Life

Art & Creativity for Healing based in Laguna Niguel doesn't want any child to be without, that's why it is seeking the community's help in gathering art supplies for "Healing Art Boxes."

What’s a child’s life with art?

based in Laguna Niguel doesn’t want any child to be without, that’s why it is seeking the community’s help in gathering art supplies for Healing Art Boxes that will be distributed to children of deployed military personnel at Camp Pendleton; children in long-term care at Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC), and their siblings; and, children participating in the Families and Communities Together (FaCT) program, a partnership between Orangewood Children’s Foundation and Orange County Social Services, at family resource centers across North and Central Orange County.

"A ‘Healing Art Box’ is a special shoe box filled with 10 different art supplies that will be given to a child experiencing pain such as the death of a loved one, divorce in the family, the frequent or extended military deployment of a mom or dad overseas, or economic hardship,” said Laurie Zagon, founder/director, Art & Creativity for Healing.

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“Through drawing, painting and creative expression, these children can say things for which they have no words, they simply need the right tools, which can be found in our Healing Art Boxes," she said. "We are excited to give the community an opportunity to help ease a child’s pain by donating art supplies toward this campaign.”

Zagon added that the children love the Healing Art Boxes and they are so grateful to know that people care about them enough to provide them with such a generous gift. Without them many children would not have their own art supplies to use in creative expression.

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"We are delighted to expand this program so that the delivery of 'Healing Art Boxes' can be made throughout the year, and not just around the holidays. We are also grateful for the community's help in making the project such a huge success, year after year," she said.

Through drawing, painting and creative expression, children can say things for which they have no words, they simply need the right tools, which can be found in the Healing Art Boxes.

As part of the Healing Art Box campaign, Art & Creativity for Healing is seeking donations of 10 different art supplies including children’s scissors, colored pencils, construction paper pads, drawing pads, glue sticks, markets, rulers, small journals, water-based paint pots and water colors. All donations must be delivered directly to Art & Creativity for Healing located at 26079 Getty Dr. in Laguna Niguel.

The approximate cost to fill one Healing Art Box with one of each of the requested art supplies is $20. Art & Creativity for Healing is also accepting cash donations in any amount, which will be used to purchase supplies to fill the art boxes.

The Healing Art Boxes will be delivered to children participating in Art & Creativity for Healing’s “Healing for Heroes and their Families” program at Camp Pendleton; Bedside Art Program at CHOC; and partnership with FaCT Orange County in June, October and December.

“This is an ongoing initiative, and with the community’s help, we can continue to support the children we serve in using artistic expression to ease their pain through the delivery of the Healing Art Boxes at regular intervals well into the future,” she said.

Founded in 2000, Art & Creativity for Healing Inc. is a non-profit organization committed to helping children and adults process their feelings of pain, grief, fear or stress using the venue of painting on canvas. Art & Creativity for Healing provides free classes taught by Zagon and her team of facilitators on-site at hospitals and non-profit community organizations.

Please call (949) 367-1902 or visit our art4healing.org.

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