Birch Grove Elementary Art Exchange Box Brings Smiles to Seniors
Students across the Osseo School District will be sending smiles to seniors through art.
This past spring, Birch Grove Elementary School art teacher Kori Brown noticed distance learning students didn’t have equal access to art supplies. The teacher came up with a way to donate free art supplies by turning two old newspaper stands into art exchange boxes.
One art box is permanently located at Birch Grove Elementary, while the other travels throughout the Osseo School District, primarily Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center.
This month, students discovered the true power of art.
“The Birch Grove PTO and myself wanted to do a December or winter service project, giving back to the community. What came of that was this program called ‘Smiles for Seniors,'” explained Brown.
Inside the art exchange boxes, students find kits that includes two blank postcards. Students are instructed to draw on the post cards and write a nice message then drop it in the mail. The cards are already stamped and pre-addressed. Brown said the postcards will benefit five senior living facilities.
Birch Grove Elementary student Ellie Schuette shows off her postcard.
The pandemic has caused separation struggles among seniors, so the hope is that these hand-drawn cards will make a huge impact.
“They might not know the people that are receiving these cards but they are bringing joy to them.”
Birch Grove third-grade student, Ellie Schuette has already dropped one card off in the mail. She told CCX that bringing others joy makes her also joyful.
“It makes me feel happy too,” said Ellie.
