Student art project to aid hurricane victims

Third and fourth grade students at Tecumseh Acres have been working on an art project that will have an added benefit: they are selling the objects and proceeds will be donated to a charity that is actively helping Superstorm Sandy victims.“The students had to create a house with a heart on it,” said Tecumseh Acres Art Teacher, Jessie Lafountain. Student teacher Andrea Worthington, who is also a student at Adrian College, led the project.“They really enjoyed doing these houses,” said Worthington.During the class, the students discussed the facts of the storm and talked about families who lost everything, including their homes. They also looked at pictures of the devastation.“First, they had to design the house on paper, then they created a house out of clay, and it had to include a heart somewhere in the design,” said Lafountain. “After they were fired, they painted them.” The fourth graders were selling their houses on Wednesday, Nov. 28, and Thursday, Nov. 29, during parent-teacher conferences for suggested donations of $5 each.“We offered them up to parents first, then if there are houses left, others may purchase them,” said Lafountain. Houses made by third graders will be sold during the school’s Winter Dinner event on December 6.“I thought this project was a way to encourage people to move on and to help other people,” said Kyle Mackey, a fourth grader who created one of the houses. “And it was all fun things. I think people should help other people more.”Tecumseh Acres PTO also assisted the students with the sales, offering to collect the proceeds and later write one check to the charity that is selected. Proceeds will benefit a charity such as American Red Cross, United Way or Salvation Army, all of whom are assisting those affected by the storm.