If you’ve driven by the Mission of Hope on the four-lane in Hardy recently, you may have noticed some new artwork, thanks to the Fancy Advancies, also known as the advanced art students of Michale Riggs eighth grade art class at the Highland School District.
Recently, Riggs received a call from the Mission of Hope’s Co-Administrator Holly Melson, after Melson was approached by Megan Werneke, an avid volunteer at the mission about the possibility of getting students involved with beautification projects at the mission.
“Holly reached out and asked if some of my students would like to come and renovate the opening of Hope’s Closet to draw people in from the road,” Riggs said.
Soon after being contacted, Riggs students began drawing plans for the mural they would create at the entrance, turning bare space into a meaningful piece of artwork.
Riggs said this is not the first project the students have completed for spaces in the community and it likely will not be the last.
“We call them the Fancy Advancies for fun, they’re our eighth-grade advanced students and this is their second year in the program. They are very talented and executed this beautifully. I am proud of them. This is their second mural, last year, they did a mural in upper Hardy,” Riggs said. “We would love to do more. If someone wants one, they can reach out and contact me at the middle school, reach out to me on Facebook or call the office at the school.”
Melson said the organization is thrilled to have the new artwork proudly displayed for the community to enjoy.
“Community outreach is really the whole point if this, we love it being freshened up and looking better. This is something the kids can be proud of and that will be in a community for a long time. We want the community to become involved in what we do,” Melson said. “With our organization, what we do and why we do it. The reason we do it is for our community. If anyone is in need, we want them to know that they can come to us and get support.”
Werneke, one of the volunteers at the mission and a local artist said she initially had the idea when reminiscing about past projects she’d undertaken in Virginia.
“I think involving kids in art is important and what better thing is there than the Mission of Hope because this brings up their awareness of what we’re about. They can be proud about it and realize that their artwork can make a difference,” Werneke said. “I did a project like this when I lived in Virginia and involved elementary school kids and it brough the community together and it was great. At one point I had 60 parents helping paint walls.”
Now that the mural is complete, Werneke said she hopes the community will come and view the artwork and learn more about the Mission of Hope.
“I want people to know how important community is, a sense of community is. How important the Mission of Hope is and how we are a part of this community. It’s not just a yard sale or a resale shop, lives are changed for the better here and we want people to come and be a part of that.”
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
