Howard Payne University’s art students and the Baptist Student Ministry are meeting clean water needs for people around the world through events to be held February 23 and 24.
All proceeds will go to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization working to provide safe drinking water to families in developing nations. According to the organization, there is a serious need for clean drinkable water in many countries, especially those in South America, Africa and South Asia.
“Water should never be something the privileged have access to and the poor don’t,” said Allison Harp, senior art education major from Ovilla. “I love how Charity: Water shows the connections between water and other facets of life like health and education.”
Through help from the BSM, Harp and other students are raising awareness on the severity of the need for water. On February 23, from 7-9 p.m., they will host an Art for Water display, showcasing paintings, photography, jewelry, paper goods, wall art, cards, henna designs, knitted items and more made by HPU students. The art will be available for sale, and all proceeds will go toward Charity: Water projects. Coffee and punch will also be provided by Sodexo.
Other HPU students and alumni donating art for the event include Kelsey Duvall ’11; Molly Gore ’11; Mike Hatcher ’10; Ashley McLaughlin, senior art communication major from Brownwood; Jaime Speegle, junior psychology major from Goldthwaite; and Danielle Wells, senior cross-cultural studies and art communication major from Terrell. Joshua Pickens, HPU assistant professor of art, is contributing art as well.
“We’re hoping to raise enough money to provide 50 people with clean water through the actual Art for Water event on the 23rd and the Water Walk on the 24th that BSM is sponsoring,” said Harp.
The Water Walk will be held Friday from 3-5 p.m. Students will donate $5 for the opportunity to walk one mile carrying empty jugs, fill the jugs with clean water and walk a mile back to HPU. The students will walk from the front of HPU’s campus to Coggin Park and back.
“It was Allison’s idea to get people aware of the need for clean water and find creative ways for students to use their talents to make a difference,” said Keith Platte, BSM director. “If they can’t drill a well or donate thousands of dollars, maybe they could donate some time and works of art for the cause.”
For more information on Art for Water and the Water Walk, contact Platte at (325) 649–8319. To learn more about Charity: Water, visit www.charitywater.org.
