To celebrate the “Gift of Gratitude,” many Arts District businesses are encouraging their shoppers to support local charities, including District 97 PTOs, OPRF Food Pantry and Sarah’s Inn.  Why don’t you give gratitude to get gratitude this holiday season!

Gratitude Cranes for District 97 PTOs - Local elementary children from Whittier, Longfellow, Beye and Irving wrote and drew what they’re grateful for on 8”x8” white paper provided by the Arts District.  Then the artists and business owners in the Arts District created origami crane ornaments out of the children’s gratitudes.  The specifics of each child’s words and images of gratitude were folded into the ornaments to create objects of symbolic beauty.

The crane ornaments will be on display and for sale in the Arts District from Friday, 11/20/09, through the holiday season.  All profits from the sales will be donated to the participating schools in proportion to their contributions of children’s gratitudes. In total, 670 elementary children made gratitudes, with Whittier topping the list for most (36% of total), followed by Irving (33%), Beye (22%) and Longfellow (9%).

Cranes are for sale in the following locations, and more are added daily as they are created:

1. Art Gecko
2. Bead in Hand
3. Calypso Moon
4. Creative Changes
5. Expressions Graphics
6. Gallery Pink
7. Ginkgo Acupuncture
8. Harrison Works
9. Pamela Penney Textile Arts
10. Ridge Art
11. Studio Light
12. Val’s halla
13. Whispers from the Moon
14. Wonderwall Music Shoppe & Emporium

Donation to Sarah’s Inn - Sarah’s Inn is committed to ensuring a violence-free society with guaranteed rights, protection under the law and equal access to services for all women and their families.  Help support their mission either through direct contributions or through the creative efforts of the Arts District.  Bid on the Pamela Penney’s “Crazy Community Crocheted Blanket,” which is being auctioned off to benefit Sarah’s Inn.  Bidding ends 12/18.