Philanthropic society hosts ‘painting for poverty’ to help hungry

Petosky senior Katelyn Olson and Manton freshman Holly Sucharski paint pots at Paint for Poverty Thursday night at Powers Hall. “It’s good to get away from homework for while and it’s a good cause,” said Sucharski.
(Kaitlin Thoresen/Staff Photographer)

Students spent Thursday evening unleashing their artistic abilities in hopes of raising money to fight poverty in the Mount Pleasant area.

Sponsored by the poverty committee within the Honors Program Philanthropic Society, Powers Hall hosted students who paid a fee of $3 to paint either a canvas or flowerpot or $5 for two items or both. There was an additional charge of $2 for any additional items.

“We wanted to do something to help with poverty in the Mount Pleasant area,” Committee Chairperson Elizabeth Pauly said. “So, we decided we were going to do something like soup bowls and put actual soup in it and paint the outside of those. But we decided painting flower pots and canvas would be a little easier, and it would be fun, too.”

Pauly said she thought this would be an important event to have since poverty is a global issue that hits close to home.

“I think a lot of times you don’t really see the poverty around us,” the Au Gres native said. “But, we went to the soup kitchen, and, when you go there, you can see that there are people right around us that need help.”

Another committee member, junior Danielle Weaver, said she wanted to be a part of the event and learn more about poverty.

“Growing up, I wasn’t around a lot of poverty, but, coming to (Central Michigan University), I wanted to be on a committee that kind of focused on something I wasn’t familiar with, so it’s definitely been eye-opening to be a part of this committee,” the Hessel native said.

The money raised from the event will go toward the Community Compassion Network to help those at the mobile food pantry in Mount Pleasant.

“Even just raising a hundred dollars can help feed, I think it’s ten families, for a whole week,” Weaver said. “So, the simplest amount of money can make such a big difference.”

Many in attendance appreciated the opportunity to have a different way to raise money.

“It’s different than a lot of other fundraisers,” Walworth said. “It’s not just like another 5k or anything, not that I’m bashing them. It’s a unique event for people that might not really feel like they are all that involved in other ways.”

Weaver said the goal with the event was not only for people to have fun and raise money, but also to raise awareness that poverty is close to home.