Local Charity Gives Back to Heroes Around the World

ATLANTA - Dec. 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Holidays are filled with tradition, gaining the holiday weight, and spending time with loved ones. But what if you can’t be with your family and friends, and instead you’re in a foreign place for a cause you believe in? This is the quandary for thousands of service members around the world. So, in conjunction with the American Red Cross’ annual Holiday Mail for Heroes effort, drawchange decided to combat the holiday loneliness for service members overseas.

On December 2nd drawchange hosted an event to create holiday cards for our troops. “We know this is a small effort, but our goal is to provide a touch of home for the brave men and women who can’t be at home with their loved ones over the holidays,” says Jennie Lobato, founder of drawchange. By donating the art supplies, and rounding up volunteers to help coordinate the event, drawchange brought together a crowd to make holiday cards.

“I remember when I was deployed to Iraq and received a card from someone back in the US how much it meant. I took my card and pinned it to my board as a reminder that "people care" and I was not alone. Thank you for doing this!,” says Gunnery Sergeant, D. Singh of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Attendees of the event were able to craft a card using their own creativity and adding in personal flair. “Making cards, as opposed to signing pre-made cards, feels more personal and I hope they provide some comfort to our service members to know that we’re thinking about them,” says volunteer Ashley Hyun.  The cards produced will hopefully bring some holiday cheer to any service member away from home.

Serving the children of Atlanta, drawchange provides empowering art programs to increase self-esteem and critical thinking skills in impoverished children to help them emerge from their current circumstances. And while drawchange usually focuses on helping children make art, it supports all versions of art therapy and philanthropy. Lobato said, “Drawchange had the chance to combine art and the holidays to do something good for someone else. There was no way we were going to pass up this opportunity.” You can learn more about drawchange’s programs at www.drawchange.org