Firehouse Art Center is helping children who were devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by calling on OU students and members of the community to donate art supplies.

Places to Donate

Firehouse Art Center, 444 S.Flood (M-F 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)

City Hall, 201 W. Gray St. (M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Irving Middle School Recreation Center, 125 Vicksburg Ave. (M-F 4 p.m.- 9 p.m.)

Whittier Middle School Recreation Center, 2000 W. Brooks (M-F 4 p.m.-9 p.m.)

12th Avenue Recreation Center, 1701 12th Ave. NE. (M-TH 1 p.m.- 9 p.m., Fri. 12-6 p.m.)

Little Axe Community Center, 1000 168th Ave. NE. (M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Danette Ward, Firehouse executive director, said she thinks donating art supplies for the relief effort will benefit the Norman community.

"When you donate art supplies, you know specifically who you are giving to and what your money is being used for," Ward said.

Allison Smith, elementary education senior, said she would rather give to kids who don't have anything right now.

Ward said she thinks this project encourages more participation from OU students to help with the relief effort.

"I know many college students might want to help but are broke," Ward said. "However, art supplies are relatively inexpensive and affordable for OU students to donate."

Smith said she thinks giving children art supplies is a good idea.

"Art is important for children because they learn when they are coloring and being active," Smith said. "That is exactly what these kids need."

Ward said the idea to donate art supplies to children came when she and her staff were talking about how they enjoyed art as kids.

"All kids love art," Ward said. "We hope the art supplies will allow them to get their minds off what they are going through."

Various drop spots in Norman will collect art supplies and donations during September.

Ward said the city helped develop city-wide drop spots to aid the project.

Jud Foster, director of the Parks and Recreation Board, said he set up locations at city hall and different recreation centers in Norman.

The drop spot locations are Firehouse Art Center, City Hall, Irving Middle School Recreation Center, Whittier Middle School, 12th Avenue Recreation Center and Little Axe Community Center, according to a press release.

"The drop spots are accessible to all areas of Norman," Ward said.

Suggestions for supplies to donate include: glitter, markers, crayons, pencils, construction paper, erasers, etc., according to a press release by Firehouse Art Center. The art supplies collected will be sent to Camp Gruber in eastern Oklahoma or wherever they are most needed in October.

Ward said she hopes the art supplies will the children hope.

"Giving these kids art supplies is a small token, but the effects will be huge," Ward said.
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