We are all longing for lunches with friends and colleagues and gatherings for birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Attending in-person classes, the local school concert/play and the local sports events are very missed. Take just a moment to imagine how our kids feel.

For our children, COVID-19 is profoundly distressing. Social isolation is a challenge, on top of the societal and economic unrest our children have been enduring (or witnessing the adults in their lives endure) for more than 300 days!

That’s a really long time.

The pandemic’s effects on our kids — and the ways in which art and storytelling can address some of these emotional and psychological issues — are beginning to emerge.  Scientific studies show us how art heals.

Through artistic experiences, the body’s physiology changes from a state of stress to one of deep relaxation, from a state of fear to one of creativity, inspiration and hope.

When we first became aware of COVID-19 we sprang into action. Our team of multi-talented and bilingual artists created virtual programming to facilitate literacy development and arts education. Entire families chimed in and participated in our free storytelling nights! Our fee-based performances were offered for free and were open to all. Story Tapestries became our youth’s connection to the outside world and to one another.

You can help Story Tapestries continue to serve our community. Our motto “Empower. Educate. Engage.” guides us to create collaborative arts programs that cater to communities’ needs through free or affordable arts events and workshops.

Help our kids with your year-end gift to Story Tapestries. Together, we will empower our resilient youth in their healing, growth, learning and development throughout all of these challenges that we are all facing!

Since our founding in 2010, we have reached over 840,000 individuals. With your help we plan by 2022 to surpass reaching 1 million children, youth, adults and seniors!

Story Tapestries programs and services create connections, whether in-person or online.

In times of crisis, feeling a part of something and connected to others becomes more important than ever.

Performances, workshops, after-school programs, summer camps and professional development programs are several ways in which we connect with youth experiencing economic hardship and the adults who interact with and support them.

Since the pandemic’s start, Story Tapestries has developed and safely delivered activity kits to over 760 families and engaged 10,930+ households in educational programming.

With your help we can continue to provide this important educational programming and essential learning activity kits.

I know that these challenges can seem overwhelming. I know that you and I always have the power to choose. We can choose to act and to help the causes and people we care about. You and I can choose to make a difference in our own communities.

Your donation to Story Tapestries is a gift of HOPE for a brighter, more equitable future for today and tomorrow’s youth.

• $25 will provide a child with an after school arts-centered educational workshop
• $50 will provide 5 families with activities kits including guided lessons and supplies
• $75 will train an educator to transfer their skills to an online platform, offering additional emotional support and an understanding of trauma to better serve their students
• $500 will provide a high impact intergenerational Community Connection virtual event that promotes cross-generational dialogue and conversation

We need your gift today! You can help us insure that not one day goes by without connection, healing, and hope for our local young people. There are three ways to give:

1. Donate now
2. Pledge a donation
3. Text “Give to 48356” to (+1)623-244-8464. Message and data rates may apply.

Thank you for making this mission possible!

From the evening Facebook LIVE performances and virtual school-based STEM classes to the Activity Kits and multi-generational storytelling workshops – you are not alone, and I thank you for ensuring our children are not either.

Hugs,

Arianna Ross,
Executive Director