Service Projects

Card-Making Service Project with Evacuees

A wonderful woman named Susan Pickering-Rothamel, who owns a company called USArtQuest, gathered thousands of hand-stamped, and postage-paid, holiday cards. She boxed the cards along with stickers, colored papers, stamps, watercolors, blank cards, and various other ephemera. She named these "Art Card Kits." Each kit allows 12 people to make a set of 6 cards.

The Dallas Housing Authority arranged for NTATA to meet with housing managers who are working with evacuees from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Dates and times for art making events were arranged and facilitated.

NTATA members Anita Mester, ATR-BC, LPC, Linda McCarley, ATR-BC, LCSW, Adrienne Lee, LPC Intern, art therapy student, Monir Saleh, art therapy student, and Andrea Davis, LPC Intern and professional art therapist, did art-making at different locations around Dallas with evacuees. Jane Avila, LCSW, and Heidi Tournoux-Hanshaw, LPC Intern generously allowed the Art Station to be used as the focal point for collecting and distributing art kits. Heidi and Jane also made cards with evacuees in the Ft. Worth area. It was a big success!

The evacuees, together with NTATA members, enjoyed the card making events held at various locations around the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex. Because of the success of these events, NTATA has been invited back to facilitate more art making.

Here are are some pictures from one of our Art Card making events we held before the holidays.

Volunteer Opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering with the American Red Cross in the Gulf Coast region and can commit to time away from your normal schedule, click on Red Cross Volunteer Documents. Download, print, and complete the forms. Then, submit them directly to the American Red Cross via fax at (202) 303-0233. Remember, even though the forms indicate that DSHR certification is required, it is not necessary at this time due to the nature and extent of the disaster area. Also, consider enrolling in Red Cross DSHR training so that those willing to assist in the future can be immediately involved. To see the schedule of Red Cross orientations, go to www.redcrossdallas.org and click on "Ways to Help." Then click "Volunteer". The next Dallas orientation is October 15th in the morning. The next McKinney orientation is November 12 in the morning.

Additional Information

Using Art in Trauma Recovery with Children

Feel free to distribute this AATA document to local shelters, community services, and other professionals who are working with those displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Recommended goals for art therapy with evacuees include art activities to:

	normalize anxiety and depression
	assist with the safe release of anger and aggression
	assist with overcoming a sense of helplessness

Suggested interventions may include:

	normalizing anxiety and depression
	boxes for collecting or putting treasures in
	clay animals and environment
	bridge between two worlds
	spirit doll or worry doll or puppet
	handmade books or albums for new pictures
	picture frames
	beads and floss for necklaces and bracelets
	murals depicting hurricane experience
	build a "safe place"

Card-Making Service Project with Evacuees

Volunteer Opportunities

Additional Information

Using Art in Trauma Recovery with Children

Other Helpful Links