Activate Good is partnering with Art Intimacy, a nonprofit learning organization, to collect and distribute art and school supplies to 100 local children this summer. 

To keep at-risk students engaged and encouraged during the summer months, Art Intimacy is holding an arts, crafts, and school supplies drive to create SmART Summer Kits. Supplies needed to create the kits include crayons, paper, paint, coloring books and markers.

Kits will be distributed to low-income youth and the organizations that serve them between June 29 and July 3.

“Many students have been impacted by the closure of schools due to COVID-19, and the result is the widening of an already wide achievement gap between low-income students and their peers,” said Sade Richardson, executive director of Arts Intimacy. “With the support of Activate Good and Executive Director Amber Smith, we are collecting and distributing SmART kits to keep impoverished youth engaged and encouraged this summer!”

Through a variety of creative experiences, Art Intimacy engages children and gives them the mental and educational tools they need for future success.

“The arts develop the creative learning process (through the mastering of voice, thought, movement, and expression) and give youth the tools they need to be critical and creative thinkers,” Richardson said.

Drop off new or gently used items 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, at the Activate Good office no later than Thursday, June 25. There is a SmART Supply Drive Donation Box located inside the office at Loading Dock Raleigh, 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road, Suite 115. Requested items can also be purchased from Amazon and shipped directly to Activate Good’s Raleigh location.

More information about the project and Art Intimacy can be found at activategood.org/smart/.Volunteers are also needed to deliver the art supplies from June 29 through July 3. The schedule is flexible, and drivers can sign up at activategood.org.