MONTAGUE — Artist Tracy Vernon had made a tradition of holding open studio events to raise money for international causes. This year, though, fellow artist Chris Pellerin pitched the idea of honing an open studio’s focus toward the local community.
The result? A fundraiser for the Warm the Children winter clothing drive that collected around $100.
“My husband and I give to Warm the Children every year anyway,” explained Pellerin, a fiber artist at Dunroamin Farm Design. “So we thought it would be nice to give to a local charity.”
The pair of Montague artists joined forces for a pop-up shop last weekend. Held at Vernon’s Milk Barn Studio on South Ferry Road, the pop-up shop sold paintings, prints, cards and felted items. They also raffled off artwork and a collection of small gifts.
Warm the Children was started by the Greenfield Recorder in 1993. The annual winter donation drive, which runs through the end of December, provided new coats and clothes to about 800 children last year, raising $64,702 to cover expenses.
The Recorder has a partnership with Target to provide gift cards to beneficiaries, who can then purchase the clothes independently. According to Recorder Business Manager Patti Wasilewski, who coordinates the donation drive in partnership with Community Action Pioneer Valley, the goal is to raise $75,000 for Warm the Children this year — an amount that would fund enough $80 clothing gift cards to distribute to 900 people. These gift cards are provided to Community Action for distribution, and can be used in store or online to buy clothing for each qualifying child, 12 years old or younger.
“Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated for this wonderful program,” Wasilewski said.
Despite a weather-inhibited turnout and low asks of $1 per ticket, Pellerin said those who attended last weekend’s pop-up shop and open studio were eager to contribute toward the $100 total.
“People were very receptive when they saw the raffle and where the money was going,” Pellerin said, adding that some guests simply donated to the cause without entering the raffle.
Meanwhile, holiday music accompanied cookies and hot apple cider to make the event “pretty festive,” Pellerin recapped. The event provided a chance for locals to do some holiday shopping while supporting a charitable cause.
“People definitely took advantage of us being there,” Pellerin said. “One lady came out with two bags of stuff.”
Anyone who would like to send tax-deductible donations for Warm the Children may address them to the Greenfield Recorder: Warm the Children, P.O. Box 1367, 14 Hope St., Greenfield, MA 01301.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.