Despite the ongoing challenges we have faced in light of the continuous spread of Covid-19, Colors4Change has recently reached a large milestone. Although it was a difficult year, we managed to receive over 3000 lbs. of donations. As a team, we worked extremely hard to encourage local students and peers to be as involved as possible with our mission to spread joy throughout the world, one crayon at a time. We are extremely eager to see what the future of 2023 holds for us, and we are looking forward to growing as we gain more support.
In September, Colors4Change welcomed the incoming New Jersey Chapter to the team. Even as our team members grow and move on to the next phases of their lives, we hope to maintain the spread of Colors4Change’s mission throughout the world. However, in order to do so, we must bring in new faces who share the belief that art should be accessible to everyone. It is crucial to our team that we make the transition as seamless as possible, while the new members adjust to their individual roles. We know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate these tasks, so the Illinois and New Jersey teams are connected and working together to guide their corresponding team members.
Meanwhile, our Illinois Chapter has continued to organize events in order for our message to reach other teenagers throughout Naperville. A fundraiser was hosted at TCBY where the team members welcomed friends, family, and other customers to learn about and support Colors4Change by purchasing a tasty frozen treat and dropping off art supplies. It was a very successful event that allowed the team to have some fun while connecting with the community and growing our organization.
Regardless of the changes that are occurring behind the scenes, our mission has not changed and remains our top priority. In November, we hosted a volunteer sorting session that provided an opportunity for teens in Naperville to contribute their time to help their community, and make it possible for children throughout the world to experience the joy of exploring the world of art. The supplies were donated to various locations, such as Alive Center, Ronald McDonald House, and Children’s Creative Center, but there was still more to be sorted and donated. The Illinois team donated the remainder of the supplies to Bloom Learning Center, a child care center for infants and toddlers, and Blackwell Elementary School.