SAVE ME
During the summer of 2009, the Southmayd Home residents’ activities featured a Nature Week. Recreation Director Fran Schinkel gathered and presented information and pictures to learn about the many animals and plant species that our rainforests shelter. Concerned and inspired to help halt further destruction of the world’s rainforests, our residents wanted to start a fund raising project so they could raise money to contribute to this cause.
It was decided by the residents to produce a book of original artwork along with a poem for each and the proceeds from the sale of this book would to go an organization that is helping to preserve the rainforest, a very valuable environmental asset.
Our Art Instructor, Janet Bradley, worked with each resident to produce an impression of the various components of the rainforest. To create these original works of art, they used sea sponge, craft brooms, palette knives, cosmetic sponges, strands from a floor mop, compressed sponge, combs and sometimes paint brushes and a thick, texture paint. And for once, none of the residents complained that they could not draw because no drawing was required!
Using the original artwork as the theme and inspiration, the residents next composed poetry about the rainforest and its inhabitants. The poems were written as a group poetry activity called “Giggles.”
“If I put “poetry class” on the calendar, no one would come,” said Fran, “so instead I put “Giggles” on the calendar.” Specific limericks’ parameters included the rhyming rules for which lines rhymed and the number of beats or syllables allowed per line. “We’ve had so much fun and lots of giggles working on this important project. The poems are so clever and imaginative!” added Fran.
The book is titled “Save Me” and includes 34 original works of art painted by the residents accompanied by 34 group-written poems. The price of the book is $20.00 (printing costs are $10.00 per book) and our plan is to donate the other $10.00 from the sale of each book to an organization called Third Millennium Alliance that is helping to preserve the remaining 2% of rainforest along the Jama-Coaque Reserve in western Ecuador. The sale of 12.5 books will preserve one acre of rainforest. (www.3MAlliance.org)
If you would like to purchase a copy or add a donation to this cause, please call Fran or Marda at 203-754-0360
