Free Arts NYC

Like every other Southern belle, I am an active member in the Junior League. Now, most people like to refer to this as an adult sorority, and while you may not be too far from the truth, the League also does a number of great things in surrounding communities.

I joined the League in Charleston, and I recently transferred to the NYJL (yes, there really is one here). As an active member, I am required to volunteer a designated number of hours per year with one of our sponsored organizations. This past week, I chose to spend a day with an organization called Free Arts NYC. I was instantly attracted to this organization because it mirrors one that I organized last year as a graduate student.

Free Arts NYC gathers underprivileged children from schools and homeless shelters to participate in art every other Saturday. Each child is paired with one volunteer to ensure they receive the most attention possible during their time at the event. Over a five-hour period, volunteers create arts and crafts with their buddy, followed by lunch and a performance from a local dance or theater group.

I was paired with a 10-year-old girl, who I will call T. She lives with her mother and two older brothers, and she goes to school from 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. each day because her mom works two jobs to support her and her siblings. She eats three meals at her school, and the majority of her waking hours are at school.

Coming from a hometown with a high poverty level, I am not surprised that these conditions exist, but what is surprising is how normal she thought her conditions were, as though this is how most children live their lives. Organizations like this re-ground you, making you realize what is "normal"....essentially something different to everyone. Organizations like this reaffirm just how lucky we each are to have grown up in a home where we ate nearly every meal with our family and spent quality time with our parents.

Last year, I ran an after school program once a week with friends where our focus was similar to Free Arts NYC. Most people think that as schools lose their budgets, they lose physical education classes, but in reality, art and music classes are the first to go. Growing up, I learned through my art classes that I was a strong creative writer. Had I not had these classes and been told this by my teachers, I wouldn't be where I am today. Every child deserves the opportunity to discover what they are good at, and often this comes through creative art forms, such as painting, drawing, writing, music, etc.

For the few short hours I spent with the kids, I had the chance to give the attention to T that she deserves, and hopefully I helped her to realize her strengths. If you are looking for an organization to volunteer with, I highly recommend Free Ats NYC. If I can't change the world permanently, I can hopefully change the world for a few hours.